Wheelchair "scandal?"

[Catzi]

I haven't really heard any bad rap on Ayu, but I came across something that was something about how Ayu was at a concert and she saw someone sitting in the audience and said that it was rude for them to sit. It turned out that the person was actually in a wheelchair. Is that what happened? Ayu was greatly critized for this, or something right? When exactly was this?

[zoomzoom]

Hmm it turned out to be vip spots I think and it was some of her friends sitting there, and it was blown out of scale. I don't think there was a wheelchair to begin with.

[andrepaul]

I think "wheelchair's story" was a lie and the "friend's story" too.

[truehappiness]

The friends explanation was true.

The wheelchair story was started at 2ch and caused massive hate on Ayu, making them need to post explanations on her official site. D=

[Catzi]

O_o Some people just want to cause trouble I guess...

Thanks for clearing it up.

[andrepaul]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

The friends explanation was true.

No evidence for the wheelchair, same for the friend.
The pro-ayu believes the friend's story and the anti-ayu to the wheelchair's story.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by andrepaul

No evidence for the wheelchair, same for the friend.
The pro-ayu believes the friend's story and the anti-ayu to the wheelchair's story.

There was no evidence for the wheelchair story because it was cooked up by 2ch. Do you even know what you're talking about?

The friend story is true if you were around/read up on that time. She had a bunch of BBS posts related to it. I'm sure you know of masa right? He posted some information about it on his site:

　I write the outline briefly. -- In the middle of the Countdown Live concert 2001- 2002, she noticed some people in the front row was sitting, though the other audience were all standing, and warned them rather jokingly. The audience booed them in response to her words, and they stood up. But a few weeks later, it was rumoured that a physically handicapped person was among them. The people who gather at a BBS named "2 Channel" and like slandering and humiliating celebrities more than anything else (I call them "2 Channellers" after this) heard of it, and started to attack all together on the BBS's of Hamasaki Ayumi fansites late in January, blaming as, "Hamasaki made a discriminating remark against a physically handicapped person. Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!" All the BBS's were thrown into big confusion, and many of them were forced to be closed. -- But the fact was that there were no physically handicapped person among them sitting in the front row from the first, and indeed, they were her acquaintances. She said such words because she thought it wasn't good that her acquaintances in the special seats were sitting, while the common audience were standing. The absurdity of that tumult lied in that many prople told there must have been a victim and made a fuss, though there was no such a person actually. On Feb. 4, about two weeks after the tumult began, avex gave out the comment of President Yoda and made the facts clear. And on Feb. 12, Mr. Itoi Shigesato, who had heard the story from her, picked up the matter in his own homepage giving appropriate support to her, and the situation returned to normal at last. But even after the truth was revealed in this way, none of the "2 Channellers" who had done great harm to the fansites apologized.
　Though the incident was a year and several months ago, I feel bad recalling it now. Because the people I dislike most are those who hurt someone and enjoy it, and the "2 Channellers" are just the kind of fellows. (It's a pity that such nasty fellows seem to inhabit at higher rate in Japan in other countries.) In my opinion, they did four sinful things then. The first one was of course that they hurt her badly. The second is that they hurt the feelings of many administrators and users of the BBS's. The third is that they made themselves fall low. The fourth is that they disturbed the desirable development of democracy. (The explanation of this point would be very long, so I don't do it here.) What I want to tell them is just one thing -- "Look at yourself."
　On the other hand, there was some problem in the move of avex and her at that time. Avex first left the tumult and waited for the natural calming down. Two weeks passed, it didn't calm down at all. So they gave out the comment of the president exceptionally and intended to settle the matter immediately. And they made her not to say a word about it during the time. I hear the reason was that if she had done so, it might have added fuel to the flames or complicated the matter. But what many fans wanted then was nothing but her own words. Besides, as the correct information wasn't transmitted for as many as two weeks, the fans were also confused and splitted, which invited the unreasonable acts of the "2 Channellers" as a result. Reflecting upon the matter now, I say the best way at that time should be that she gave out her own comment soon after the tumult began and removed the misunderstandings. (Actually, as she might learn from this experience, later in September when a magazine named "Josei Seven" printed the article of her close relationship with Iseya Yuusuke, she gave out her comment quickly and stopped the rumour to grow.)
　But, as it was for the first time for both avex and her to experience such an incident, there might be no help for that reaction. By the tumult and being stopped making any remarks on it, she got depressed badly. I was afraid at that time that she might lose self-confidence again and have fear of holding a concert. But she was not so weak a person. Or all sorts of hardships since the debut as a singer made her considerably strong. During the time she was obliged to be silent, she was preparing a powerful three-piece set consisting of a single, a PV and a special issue book, as the expression of her attitude toward the tumult.

The previous president of avex even commented on the situation. [This is before he was fired/replaced by max matsuura]

Does it seem fake now? :|

[OoxchocolatexmarblexoO]

Wasn't her 'attitude' also one of the issues that angered the bashers/public? When she joked that they shouldn't be sitting, she said

"kanji warui yo ne~?"
(what a bad attitute/what's up with them?)

Many people argued that even if the wheelchair story isn't true, the tone of her voice was harsh and she shouldn't be saying that sort of stuff towards her fans because it's rude.

[zoomzoom]

Originally Posted by OoxchocolatexmarblexoO

Many people argued that even if the wheelchair story isn't true, the tone of her voice was harsh and she shouldn't be saying that sort of stuff towards her fans because it's rude.

I still remember reading somewhere that it wasn't fans, but her friends in VIP seats.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by OoxchocolatexmarblexoO

Many people argued that even if the wheelchair story isn't true, the tone of her voice was harsh and she shouldn't be saying that sort of stuff towards her fans because it's rude.

She never said it towards her fans, but rather her friends. XD

But the fact was that there were no physically handicapped person among them sitting in the front row from the first, and indeed, they were her acquaintances. She said such words because she thought it wasn't good that her acquaintances in the special seats were sitting, while the common audience were standing.

masa's article explains all of this, I think.

[Zachery!]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

There was no evidence for the wheelchair story because it was cooked up by 2ch. Do you even know what you're talking about?

The friend story is true if you were around/read up on that time. She had a bunch of BBS posts related to it. I'm sure you know of masa right? He posted some information about it on his site:



The previous president of avex even commented on the situation. [This is before he was fired/replaced by max matsuura]

Does it seem fake now? :|

Yeah, I remember reading that a while ago on masa's (i think) website.

[letthemeatcake]

i don't remember this... ><

[truehappiness]

You shouldn't remember it.. it was during her 01-02 CDL. Not many of us here were fans at that time..

A lot of people around a year or so after might know of it though..

[AyUmIXx]

woww..never heard anything about this scandal...

[Melrose]

It was the front row. On the vid you can see some people on the front row, sitting in chairs, not wheelchairs. IMO, they were either friends or special people that won a prize of some sort to get special VIP seats, and she was just messing around with them. She doesn't seem like the person to insult anyone AT ALL, and that's an observative opinion after watching some MCs. xP She seems like someone who would only be mean if she's pissed.

[JinHamasaki]

Here's the video if anyone wants to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y4CALFwgUY

[taskinillusion]

Geez, I heard about this (when watching that segment of the concert) a few years ago and knew even then that she was talking to her friends/staff who were in the front row! Some people just have nothing better to do I guess....

[jon_the_d]

she was just making a joke at her friends for all the audience to share....completely twisted and then blown up to ludicrous proportions of false accusations and BS.

[tasking]

I was discussing this with Deli last week and I think it's totally dumb. Ayu wouldn't be that disrespectful. In fact, I think she keeps disabled people in mind. Notice all her para-para dances (Trauma, UNITE!, independent, MY ALL) you don't need to use your legs for, really, let alone stand. And, being in a wheelcair myself, I appreciate that.

[alternarist]

Yeah.. i think its an issue blown out of proportion.

Jus imagine u are singing on stage. The people u noe are sitting right in front of you. I guess it was natural for ayu to somewhat pull the legs of her friends like "Hey friends, the people behind u are standing up. why are u sitting down?" u noe?

Well.. ayu was still young then. i felt that she shldnt have even mentioned her friends and be professional.