A sex scandal involving a former SMAP member turned Fuji Television host has led dozens of major companies to pull their ads from the network. The controversy centers on Masahiro Nakai, who allegedly assaulted a woman at a 2023 party arranged by one of Fuji TV’s staff.
Nakai settled with the victim for 90 million yen ($580,000) but denied using violence. An investigation into the incident has been launched, despite some questioning whether Fuji TV was transparent about the issue.
Criticism grew after a news conference Friday where Fuji TV President Koichi Minato acknowledged the company’s lack of disclosure and apologized to advertisers. Major sponsors such as Nissan Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Shiseido, Seven & I Holding Co., and Meiji Yasuda have since pulled their ads from the network.
The incident is part of a wave of sexual assault cases in Japan’s entertainment industry, including massive abuses by former talent agency Johnny & Associates, which managed SMAP.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/japan-tv-sex-assault-scandal-sponsors-71a2112b5b5425a810975c10fe200eeb