Top Fuji TV Execs Exit Amid Alleged Sex Scandal Linked to Former Boy Band Star

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Top brass at Japanese network giant Fuji Television and its parent company have stepped down following explosive allegations involving former SMAP frontman Masahiro Nakai and claims of a corporate cover-up, the Associated Press reports.

Network president Koichi Minato and chair Shuji Kanoh announced their immediate resignations Monday as fallout continues over Nakai’s alleged sexual assault of a woman at a 2023 dinner party — an event that Fuji TV staff purportedly helped orchestrate. “We are very sorry that we mishandled the case because of our lack of awareness about human rights and corporate governance … and as a result our responses to the involved woman were inadequate,” Minato said at a press conference. “We are very sorry to have destroyed our credibility.” The scandal, which first broke in December through Japanese magazine exposés, has triggered an advertising exodus at the network.

While acknowledging the incident was treated as an “extraordinary” case requiring strict confidentiality, Minato denied any cover-up motivated by Nakai’s star status, though the network continued to feature him on air for 18 months after the alleged assault.

Fuji officials also confirmed that female announcers and employees have historically participated in parties with stars, talent agency executives and sponsors, though they denied any sexual services were involved.