NGT48 members have took to SNS one last time before a ban was made to prevent members from posting after NGT48 Team NIII Captain Kato Minami accidentally made an insensitive post about Yamaguchi Maho’s graduation.
The post earned Kato a demotion from captain to trainee, while for other members, they posted the following:
改めて今回このような形で更新できなくなってしまい、本当に申し訳ございません。
ファンのみんな、にわり☺︎のみんなが少しでも早く安心できるようにします。
いつも見てくれてるみんなごめんね。
たくさんリプありがとう😊
まっててね。— 中井りか (@rika_nakai823) May 21, 2019
Kato Rika posted, “I apologize to everyone that I will not be able to update this time. It will make it easier for every fan and everyone in the group to feel much safer. I am sorry. Thank you so much, so please wait”.
本日、このような決定がなされました。ご確認の程、お願いいたします。
応援してくださる皆様のお気持ちを裏切ることとなり、大変心苦しく感じております。誠に申し訳ございません。
NGT48 Mobile – NEWS https://t.co/2b97Rk0dk6
— 村雲颯香 (@mofu_idoll_) May 21, 2019
Murakumo Fuka posted, “Today, a decision had been made and confirmed. I feel it’s very painful to betray the feelings of everyone who had supported us. We re very sorry”.
Murakumo also posted, “The SNS for all members will stop on 11:00 p.m. on the 21st. I apologize to the fans. I am very sorry”.
Murakumo is one of the members of NGT48 who stood by Yamaguchi Maho’s side but chose to stay in the group and not graduate.
お久しぶりの更新となってしまい
すみません。公式サイトでも発表がありましたが、今日23時からTwitterとInstagramを
一旦停止することになりました。応援して下さってるみなさんを
今回このような形で不安にさせてしまい申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいです。
本当にすみません— 小熊倫実 (@oguma_tsugumi) 2019年5月21日
Oguma Tsugumi wrote, “I’m sorry that I haven’t updated for awhile. There was a post on the official site and it was decided to temporarily stop Twitter and Instagram starting at 11:00 p.m. I am sorry to make you feel sad, especially those supporting me. I’m very sorry”.
今回はメンバーの軽率な行動で不愉快にさせてしまい申し訳ありません。
そのためしばらくの間Instagram、TwitterにてSNSの使い方を見直すべく休止させて頂きます。
この期間で自分も含めメンバー間でも見直し、気持ちを改めていきたいと思いますので引き続き見守ってくださると嬉しいです。— 角ゆりあ (@kadochan062218) May 21, 2019
Kado Yuria posted, “I am sorry but due to a member’s careless offensive behavior, we will have to pause on using SNS on Instagram and Twitter for awhile”.
Needless to say, the topic was trending with many netizens responding to Kato’s insensitive post and demotion:
“What you did is similar to bullying in school. You said you failed to publish it in your ‘Closed Friends List’ on Instagram. If you’re not careful, maybe you’ll be targeted next for bullying. I wonder if this ‘Closed Friends List’ can be made public?”.
“What a horrible apology and excuse!”.
“After all this, she gets only a demotion?”.
“What a cowardly former Captain!”
“NGT48 should disband!”