Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and former member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, publically announced on Thursday that he would retire from the entertainment industry amid an ongoing sexual misconduct scandal.
“I’m truly sorry. Goodbye…” Nakai wrote on his website announcing his retirement from showbiz. He has completed terminations and cancellations of TV and radio programs and is in negotiations with his sponsors.
Nakai said in the statement:
“I do not believe that I have fulfilled all of my responsibilities with this. I will continue to deal with the various issues with utmost sincerity. I personally take all of the responsibility. I am incredibly sorry for having caused all the trouble and damage for many.”
The sexual misconduct came to light last month when weekly magazine Josei Seven and Shukan and Shukan Bunshun reported that Nakai had paid a woman 90 million yen for what was described as “sexual trouble.”
While details of the incident are unclear, reports allege that in 2013, Nakai had attended a dinner arranged with an executive of Fuji TV and a woman, but the exec backed out last minute so that the woman was left alone with the ex-SMAP member. The encounter was allegedly in a closed-door setting, with sexual acts committed against the woman’s will.
The incident resulted in the protest of 50 companies, including Nintendo and many other major brands, who pulled their support from Fuji TV in protest.
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