Dozens of major companies in Japan have pulled their adverts from Fuji Television amid allegations company officials tried to cover up a sex scandal involving one of the country’s most famous television hosts.
The scandal centres on Masahiro Nakai, a former member of the popular male band SMAP and now a host at Fuji and other Japanese networks. Nakai has been linked by local media to an alleged sexual assault at a party reportedly arranged by one of Fuji TV’s staff.
After the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported in December on a 90 million yen (US$578,000) settlement between Nakai and a woman over the alleged sexual assault at a 2023 dinner party, the former SMAP star issued a statement acknowledging a settlement over “a trouble”, but he denied using any violence.
News of the scandal did not immediately trigger a flood of pullouts by sponsors. But many apparently started replacing their commercials with public service announcements after a news conference on Friday by Fuji TV that triggered criticism that the company was lacking transparency and contrition over the affair.
Major sponsors such as carmakers Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.; cosmetics maker Shiseido; retailer Seven & I Holding Co. and life insurer Meiji Yasuda announced they were pulling ads from Fuji TV. Local media reports said more than 50 companies had done the same.