Masahiro Nakai’s Alleged Sex Scandal Prompts Advertiser Exodus at Japanese TV Giant Fuji

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Major Japanese advertisers are fleeing broadcast powerhouse Fuji Television following an alleged sex scandal involving former boy band idol turned TV host Masahiro Nakai.

Industry heavyweights such as Toyota, Nissan and Shiseido are among more than 50 companies pulling their spots from the network, per the Associated Press.

The advertising crisis erupted after weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported in December that Nakai, a former member of the mega-successful male group SMAP, had reached a JPY90 million ($577,000) settlement with a woman over an alleged sexual assault at a 2023 dinner party.

While Nakai acknowledged settling “a trouble,” he denied any violence took place. The situation reached a boiling point following a Friday press conference by Fuji TV president Koichi Minato that drew widespread criticism for its lack of transparency.