The bosses of Fuji Television resigned on Monday as pressure mounted on the Japanese broadcaster over sexual harassment allegations against celebrity host Masahiro Nakai.
Here are the details of how this scam unfolded:
– December 19, 2024 –
Tabloid magazine Josie Seven published a scoop stating that Nakai paid an unnamed woman a lump sum of 90 million yen ($570,000) over what she described as a “serious problem” between them.
Nakai, the woman and another man were supposed to attend a dinner party, but other guests were unable to attend, the report said.
A “serious problem” arose between them in a closed-door meeting during the evening, the magazine said, without giving details.
– 25th December –
Another major tabloid weekly, Shukan Bunshun, published an article titled: “The whole story of Masahiro Nakai’s 90 million yen sex scandal – ex tells interviewer, ‘I still can’t forgive him.'”
It is the first in a series of reports from Shukan Bunshun detailing the allegations, which the magazine says include a sexual act committed without the woman’s consent.
– 27th December –
Fuji Television has denied tabloid reports that one of its employees arranged the meal where Nakai, a member of 1990s boy band sensation SMAP, met the woman in 2023.
– 8th January –
Fuji TV has announced the temporary suspension of a weekly show hosted by Nakai and a radio program presented by him.
– 9 January –
Nakai apologized in a statement on its website, saying there had been a “trouble” and confirming that a settlement had been reached between the two parties.
However, he also says that what has been reported is “far from the facts” and insists that there was no physical violence involved.
– 14 January –
Rising Sun Management, an affiliate of US fund Dalton Investments, which is a shareholder in Fuji TV’s parent company, called for an external investigation to “clarify the facts” and offer “remedial measures”.
The same day, Nippon TV also removes Nakai.
– 17 January –
Fuji TV holds a press conference with selected local media – in which video recording is not allowed – where company president Koichi Minato says that an investigation will be launched by a group consisting primarily of outside experts, not Completely independent third-party committee.
– 20th January –
Japan’s Nikkei daily reports that more than 50 companies have pulled advertising from Fuji TV over its handling of the scandal.
Top brands including McDonald’s and Toyota confirmed to AFP they were pulling their advertising.
– 23 January –
After losing all of his regular shows, Nakai announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.
He says, “I sincerely apologize to the woman” and “will continue to face all the problems honestly… I am solely responsible for everything.”
– 27 January –
Fuji TV Chairman Minato and President Shuji Kanoh resigned.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the women concerned for failing to provide adequate care due to lack of awareness of human rights,” Kanoh told reporters.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)