[marty]

No ill intentions here either, but I don't understand how all of this could have been arranged. I mean, if it was, it was suicidal!
Japan doesn't look good at scandals, and I think Ayu has been so popular for so long because she kept herself away from huge relationships scandals too. We're talking about a country that would gladly lapidate an idol band girl for having a boyfriend. We can see her public image had problems after the divorce because her "honesty" -which is one of her most popular traits- was questioned. Then some time passed, LOVE was selling nicely all things considered, and then with her including Maro in again covers and PVs, the numbers dropped drastically.
I don't think it's a marketing move, simply because it's a very stupid move, it didn't improve sales or her image at all. She build her career with an image, so doing this on purpose wouldn't make sense, unless it was her own way to shake this very image off her (which could be interesting, given Party Queen concepts and lyrics).
Either it was somewhat a genuine, rough time of her, or her marketing team is a bunch of idiots who thought this would help her (and them being Avex, it's not impossible, lol!).