Masahiro Nakai, a former idol from the boy band SMAP, has found himself entangled in a scandal that's causing big waves for Fuji Television. The scandal revolves around an alleged sexual assault at a dinner party last year, where Nakai reportedly paid a settlement of 90 million yen ($577, 000). Though he admits to resolving "trouble, " Nakai denies any violence occurred.

Over 50 companies, including major players like Toyota and Shiseido, have pulled their ads from Fuji TV following the scandal. The network's president, Koichi Minato, admitted during a press conference that Fuji TV had known about the incident for six months but did not disclose it until a magazine report.

The plot thickens with allegations from an anonymous female Fuji announcer claiming a senior executive arranged similar gatherings for Nakai. Fuji TV launched an internal investigation only after pressure from a major shareholder, Rising Sun Management, linked to U. S. investment firm Dalton Investment.

Nissan, one of the notable blue-chip advertisers, also announced it had withdrawn ads and is keeping an eye on the situation before making further decisions. This scandal adds to the dark history of Japan's entertainment industry, which is still grappling with the Johnny & Associates abuse revelations from last year.

Masahiro Nakai's Alleged Scandal: Fuji TV’s Big Advertiser Exodus

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