In a significant development, the chairman and president of Fuji TV, a major player in Japan’s broadcasting landscape, have stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a well-known television host.
Numerous companies have withdrawn their advertisements from the network, which has faced backlash for allegedly attempting to conceal the scandal.
Masahiro Nakai faces allegations of sexually assaulting a woman during a dinner party in 2023, which was reportedly organized by staff from Fuji TV. Last week, he announced his retirement from show business.
The Japanese government has urged Fuji TV to restore confidence among its viewers and sponsors.
During a press conference on Monday, Shuji Kano, chairman of Fuji TV, and Koichi Minato, the president, expressed their apologies and announced their resignations. The announcement followed an emergency board meeting.
The organization apologized to viewers and stakeholders, acknowledging the distress and turmoil generated by a scandal that significantly impacted Japan’s entertainment sector.
“I am acutely aware of the burden I carry for eroding confidence in the media,” stated Mr. Minato. “Upon reflection, it becomes evident that there were deficiencies in our response.”
Mr. Minato has acknowledged that the company was aware of the allegation against Nakai soon after the incident allegedly occurred. Fuji TV opted not to reveal the information at that moment, emphasising its commitment to the woman’s physical and mental recovery and safeguarding her privacy, according to his statement.
Last month, it was reported that Nakai had disbursed over half a million dollars to an unnamed woman. Subsequent allegations emerged indicating that an employee from Fuji TV organized the dinner party.
Nakai, a well-known figure and former member of the boy band SMAP, has publicly refuted allegations of violence against a woman despite his prominence as a host on various Fuji TV programs. He said he had “resolved” the issue with her via a settlement.
However, this measure failed to alleviate the growing public outrage.
Nissan and Toyota, two prominent car manufacturers, were among the firms that withdrew their advertising from Fuji TV.
An open letter from Rising Sun Management, the majority shareholder of Fuji TV’s parent company, has highlighted that the scandal “exposes serious flaws in your corporate governance.”
In response to the unfolding scandal, Fuji TV has established an independent committee to conduct a thorough investigation.
Kenji Shimizu, the newly appointed executive vice president, has pledged to uphold human rights standards, stating he will “never tolerate acts that violate human rights.” He committed to preventing future incidents by “starting from scratch.”
Earlier this month, the network decided to suspend a weekly show hosted by Nakai, following similar actions taken by other major networks regarding the presenter.
In response to emerging reports, several television networks have initiated their investigations into the prevalence of celebrity dinner parties, a widespread practice within the industry.
