I don't really agree with the "calculated image" argument because, yes, while that may be true, how does that explain avex letting her completely self-destruct her career with the Mannie and Maro fiascos? Unless you're a conspiracy theorist who thinks those relationships were both publicity stunts lol, it doesn't match up at all.
I can buy into that argument for earlier, classic Ayu, for example. But these days she's incredibly transparent, especially with Twitter at her disposal. And she's never been an actress, let's be real. So while a celebrity's persona may be calculated in a sense, in most cases you can easily see the person's real personality underneath, e.g. cool, cold Namie onstage vs. the shy introvert she really is. Unless you're just a really terrible judge of character.
