J-Pop Star Stabbed By Fan During Meet-And-Greet

Japanese pop star Mayu Tomita is in a critical condition after a fan stabbed her more than 20 times just before she was scheduled to perform in Tokyo on Saturday.

As The Guardian reports, the brutal attack was allegedly by fan Tomohiro Iwazaki, who was upset a gift to the 20-year-old singer had been returned and lashed out at a meet-and-greet, inflicting wounds to her neck, chest, arms and back.

Tokyo’s Kyodo News reports that Iwazaki told investigators he had confronted the pop star about the unaccepted gift before lashing out.

“I asked her why, but she gave an evasive answer, so I became mad and stabbed her numerous times,” Iwazaki said.

Tomita told police earlier in May that Iwazaki was posting obsessive comments about her online.