At a press conference on Monday, Fuji TV Chairman Shoji Kanu and President Koichi Minato bowed out as they announced their resignations.
He apologized to viewers as well as stakeholders for the trouble and distress caused by the scandal that has rocked Japan’s entertainment industry.
Minato previously confirmed that the company did not disclose Nakai’s scandal despite being aware of it long before it was reported in the media.
Last month, reports surfaced that the TV host had paid an unidentified woman more than half a million dollars. Further allegations followed that an employee of Fuji TV had helped arrange the meeting.
Nakai, a former member of boy band SMAP and a household name, has denied using violence against women. He said on January 9 that he had “resolved” the matter with him through a settlement.
But this did nothing to assuage public anger.
Automakers Nissan and Toyota were among the companies that received advertisements from Fuji TV.
Earlier this month, the network suspended a weekly show hosted by Nakai while other major networks also dropped the presenter.
Fuji TV has set up an independent committee to investigate the scandal.
