Downtown’s Matsumoto Hitoshi announces hiatus from entertainment activities, vows to fight against sexual allegations

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On the 8th, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. announced that Downtown’s Matsumoto Hitoshi will be suspending his entertainment activities.  This comes after a report from Shukan Bunshun of sexual misconduct allegations against him. In the article two women said they were forced into sexual activities at private parties at an upscale Tokyo hotel in 2015.

According to Bunshun, “`The article is based on multiple detailed testimonies and extensive supporting interviews, so we have full confidence in it”.

The statement was as follows:

We apologize for the inconvenience caused to everyone involved due to various reports since December 27th last year, and we would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has always supported us. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. However, since then, we have received a series of inquiries not only from our company and Matsumoto, but also from all parties involved, including business partners, and articles regarding Matsumoto’s TV appearances have been frequently published. We have recently received a request from Matsumoto that he would like to first address the various articles and focus on the trial. If I continue my entertainment activities, I will cause even more inconvenience and burden to many people involved and co-stars. Since he has expressed a strong desire to suspend his activities for the time being because he will no longer be able to devote all his efforts to comedy, our company will respect the individual’s will, taking various circumstances into consideration. We apologize for the sudden suspension of activities and the great inconvenience this may cause to the broadcasting station and everyone involved, but we ask for your understanding. We sincerely apologize for causing further concern to the fans who have been looking forward to Matsumoto’s appearances, but we ask that you please wait for the day when he will be active as Downtown Matsumoto Hitoshi again.

Yoshimoto Kogyo announced after the article was released that there were “no facts whatsoever”.

Matsumoto took to Twitter to post, “It’s unfounded, so I’ll fight”.

事実無根なので闘いまーす。

それも含めワイドナショー出まーす。

— 松本人志 (@matsu_bouzu) January 8, 2024

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