So blame the newspapers for trying to overshadow the graduation. Again, the incident happened months ago and they're only reporting it now; what about their responsibility? If this is so newsworthy why wasn't it reported sooner? It's clear that someone wants to throw a wrench into H!P's current momentum, but it's not Mari. The idea that this is some kind of plot on her part to steal someone else's thunder is what I'm trying to argue against.
Just wanted to point out that I am not implying that Mari somehow willingly tried to overshadow Reina's graduation. Linking both events is the media's choice of course, a logical one from their perspective if they're trying to boost their sales numbers. In Mari's defense, her years as a "variety-idol" have been very good to H!P, inviting members on her shows, helping Sayumi in the variety circuit,... I appreciate her greatly for that and those things should not be forgotten.
My only issue with the matter is that here we have another example of a dissonance between what many of the OG's say they would like their newer generations to do, how they should behave and their own "dubious" actions. Every time it seems a new generation tries to make a fresh start, they get bit in the ass by a screw-up from the OG Club. I appreciate their efforts. Without them, we wouldn't have all we have today. I'm just beginning to feel that unlike many who still claim Morning Musume and H!P are coasting by on the success of "The Golden Age members", lately it's been the opposite, with them succeeding
despite the more recent actions of their predecessors.
For the record: I genuinely hope Mari and her husband can resolve their matters. No one likes to go through a mess like this and the fact that the press got a hold of it just makes it that much worse.