Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius) apologizes again for his comments he made back in 1994

Oyamada Keigo (52) has apologized again and explained the bullying comments he made back in 1994.

Best known as the music artist Cornelius and a former member of Flipper’s Guitar, was one of the music producers of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremonies, until controversial comments he made back in 1994 resurfaced and the music artist resigned.

Oyamada faced major backlash for his past comments in an interview article about him bullying a classmate with disabilities. In the 1994 article for “Rockin’ On Japan”, Oyamada bragged about how he was proud about bullying a classmate who had disabilities which led to many demanding Oyamada’s resignation.

Oyamada wrote an apology back on Julyu on his website, writing “I apologize from the bottom of my heart, of course to the classmate himself whom I have hurt, and all my fans, friends and other people involved”.

Oyamada wrote on Twitter that he hopes to contact the person he had bullied and apologize and wrote that he was “immature” and that it was because of his guilt that prevented him from coming forward.

The music artist apologized again two months later writing, “Once again, I sincerely apologize for making many people hurt and uncomfortable based on my past interview articles. I am very sorry. I was irresponsible and dishonest about not having explained or apologized so far. ”

【いじめに関するインタビュー記事についてのお詫びと経緯説明】https://t.co/SRERIuxF1h

【Apology and Explanation About The Interview Article About Bullying】https://t.co/5zfWBlBdxm

— Cornelius (@corneliusjapan) September 17, 2021

Oyamada continued, “Now, when I think back to why I was able to talk so carelessly 27 years ago, I am very irresponsible for my guilt about what I did when I was around 10 years old, but even at the time of the interview.  I was interviewed when I was 24 to 25 years old, and it was a time when I disbanded the band I used to belong to and started working as a solo artist. I was trying to break the image that had somehow become established for me and change the way people see me by playing a brutal character. By doing excessive and selfish lip service more than necessary, I was conscious of keeping a distance from the world. I think that my lack of confidence in my work was also the cause of such behavior.”

“This time, there were false information spreads and reports, but I think that it was originally due to my mistake, and I am keenly aware of the responsibility for leaving it unattended. I’m really sorry that I’ve been worried and distrusted by not explaining the facts to the fans for a long time. It took a long time, but again. From now on, as an individual and as a musician, I will reflect on my past behavior and attitudes, and consider how I should be involved in and contribute to society. I want to broaden my thinking and take action. ”

Oyamada denied he made, suggested or coerced the disabled classmate eat excrement or forced him to masturbate.

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