In brief
A sexual assault scandal involving a popular former boy-band member enlisted a wave of public outrage in Japan, leading to a significant boycott of advertisers against Fuji Television. Major brands suspending their ads include Toyota and SoftBank, resulting in no commercials airing on the network.
Amidst a growing wave of activism around sexual misconduct, former boy-band star and popular TV host Masahiro Nakai faced intense backlash after allegations surfaced that he paid hush money related to a sexual assault case. This revelation ignited swift anger from the public and corporate entities alike, culminating in a boycott by 75 major advertisers, including well-known firms like Toyota and SoftBank. The host ultimately announced his retirement, but not before Fuji Television's ad revenue took a massive hit, leading to zero commercials airing on the channel, only replaced by unpaid public service announcements. Companies nationwide are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter, asserting their human rights policies as the reason for the ad pullout. This scandal has highlighted a new intolerance towards sexual misconduct in Japan, echoing the fallout from a previous incident involving a talent agency founder, who faced allegations of abuse for decades without accountability before his death in 2019.
