
The chairman and president of Japan’s Fuji Television resigned on Monday, weeks after a famous broadcaster was accused of sexual assault, sparking a public relations firestorm and a large exodus of sponsors.
Last month, a major tabloid magazine alleged that Masahiro Nakai, a J-pop megastar turned TV anchor, had conducted a sexual act without a woman’s consent in 2023. The 52-year-old Nakai allegedly later paid the woman 90 million yen ($570,000), and the two signed a nondisclosure agreement.
After network employees were accused of attempting to conceal the scandal, scores of firms, including McDonald’s and Toyota, removed their commercials from the private broadcaster. As criticism intensified, Fuji TV announced that its president, Koichi Minato, and chairman, Shuji Kanoh, would step down.
“I would like to sincerely apologise to the women involved for failing to provide adequate care due to a lack of awareness of human rights,” Kanoh told reporters on Monday. “I apologise to the viewers, advertisers, company members, shareholders… for the great concern and inconvenience caused by the series of news reports,” he added. Earlier last month, Minato confirmed that Fuji TV knew about the Nakai issue before it was covered in local media.
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