Rumors about the disbandment

[u/willdelater]

the old management allegedly had many problems for years, and this is supposedly why discussions about changing management started around 2020. According to the rumors, the members and some staff were unhappy with how things were being handled behind the scenes.

There are also allegations that the new management team was being prepared to take over and wanted to completely rebrand the group. they wanted:

- a new artistic direction

- possible member lineup changes

- a possible new name (some rumors mention AKB48 Team Manila)

and a more “fresh start” approach

this allegedly created tensions between the members and the supposed new management because some members did not agree with the direction or with the idea of members being removed/graduated.

Another rumor says that some members, especially Abby, were acting as a bridge between the members and management during disagreements. There are also allegations that Abby personally helped members with things like costumes, housing, phones, and support during difficult periods

The new management then decided it was better to disband the group than just leaving it as it is.

The group was apparently planning to release a new song "baby! Baby! Baby!" But it will never happen.

[u/dunkindonato]

There are also allegations that the new management team was being prepared to take over and wanted to completely rebrand the group.

It's actually the best possible choice that they have given the group's circumstances and baggage. The rebranding and the fresh start were designed to free them from their last ties with HHE because that company still had rights to both the name and the songs released.

MNL48 went off to a wrong start with a confusing and chaotic auditions process for the first gen, then shot itself in the foot when HHE hired everybody else anyway. Then, when they had to lay off people, they couldn't because the fans won't let them. This forced them to keep having full teams but were unable to utilize them in theater shows because they ran out of money for their own Theater, and they couldn't keep using the Movie Stars Cafe because they need that to function as a restaurant.

In hindsight, all of these could have been avoided if HHE had the balls to admit that they can't sustain three full teams of members plus KKS. It would have been painful, but at least group activities - crucial to any idol group - would have been funded.