Fuji TV Chairman & President Resign Over TV Host Sexual Misconduct Scandal In Japan

deadline.com:

The Chairman and President of Japan’s Fuji TV have resigned over the handling of the sexual misconduct scandal involving TV presenter Masahiro Nakai.

In a press conference held today, Fuji TV Chair Shuji Kano and Koichi Minato, Head of Fuji Media Holdings (FMH)’s TV wing, announced their resignations, bowing their heads alongside other executives before they spoke.

EVP Kenji Simizu has been promoted to replace Minato as President. He has committed to “starting from scratch” to ensure no similar incidents occur in future and the BBC reported him saying he will “never tolerate acts that violate human rights.” Advertisers have been pulling ads from the network in droves after allegations that Fuji TV execs were engaged in a cover-up over Nakai, who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a dinner arranged by network staff in 2023.

Last week, Fuji TV held an extraordinary board meeting and established a third-party committee that will oversee a “comprehensive and independent investigation into the facts surrounding a series of reports issued since December 2024 regarding an incident involving a talent appearing on Fuji TV’s program and a woman in June 2023.” Results of the committee’s investigation are expected by the end of March. “Fuji TV and FMH are committed to fully cooperating with the third-party committee throughout the investigation,” an accompanying statement read.