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| Quick Goodbye: Airi Saijo Leaves LOVE PANIC! Barely After Joining |
LOVE PANIC! has officially announced that their newest member, Airi Saijo (a.k.a. Red), has waved goodbye to both the group and the agency — just a fortnight after their big comeback concert. Yep, you read that right. Two weeks in and she’s already out the door.
For those just tuning in, LOVE PANIC! was previously known as LOVE♡MONSTER before relaunching in April 2025. Airi joined the revamped lineup on 22 April, bringing fresh energy and a splash of red to the colour-coded group. She was meant to be the new face for a new era. But by May, it was already curtains.
The group dropped the bomb via an official statement on 20 May, citing a “mutual agreement” between Airi and the agency.
While they kept things vague — no drama, no dirt — the timing alone has got fans raising eyebrows. Some are wondering if there were creative differences, personal reasons, or just cold feet about the idol life. So far though, no specifics.
From the official words:
“Although it was a short time, Airi Saijo has decided to part ways with both LOVE PANIC! and the agency, effective 20 May 2025. We deeply apologise to fans and all involved for the sudden announcement. Any unused cheki tickets can be refunded — please contact staff via official X or at the merch booth.”
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The response’s been mixed online. Some fans are gutted, others are more understanding:
💬 “Two weeks?! What happened behind the scenes??? (Laughs)”
💬 “If she wasn’t happy, better she left early. Wishing her peace.”
💬 “At this point, we need a new colour system. Red’s cursed.”
Saijo Airi's short stint now joins the ranks of blink-and-you-missed-it idol exits. But considering she debuted during a pretty hyped-up comeback, the exit’s feeling extra abrupt. Fans had just started to warm up to her – she barely got a chance to shine properly.
LOVE PANIC! themselves are still pushing ahead, with their 2024 tracks “Kataomoi Booster” and the mini-album “Lovemon!” still doing the rounds. No word yet on whether they'll be auditioning a replacement or reshuffling the current lineup.
As for Airi? No personal statement from her side as of writing — just silence across her socials. Whether she’s stepping away from the spotlight entirely or plotting something else, we’ll have to wait and see.