Changes in Casting Following Fuwa-chan’s Outburst Controversy Lead to Exclusion of Formerly Close Talents

The controversy over her “offensive remarks” continues to escalate and shows no signs of resolution.

Fuwa-chan (30) faced a massive backlash after posting offensive remarks directed at comedian Yasuko (26), who served as the charity marathon runner for “24-Hour TV” (Nippon TV). It has been a month since she was forced to suspend her entertainment activities, but the controversy shows no sign of subsiding.

“When the problematic post was made, Fuwa-chan was traveling with Aiko Kano (35) from ‘A Masso’ and Shintaro Morimoto (34) from ‘Tontsukatan,’ raising suspicions about their involvement. Although Fuwa-chan has denied this, on August 31, ‘NEWS Post Seven’ reported that ‘Kano was the one who found Yasuko’s post and showed it to Fuwa-chan,’ and that ‘there were issues between the parties’ agencies over the wording of the apology statement.’ The situation is becoming increasingly complicated.” (said an entertainment writer)

 

A production company director confided, “There is already a movement to remove celebrities who were close to Fuwa-chan from casting.”

“The entertainment industry is all about image. It was a wise decision for Rino Sashihara (31), who first introduced Fuwa-chan on TV, to close the comments section of her Instagram. ‘Birds of a feather flock together. There is no need to hire them now,’ is the sentiment, and even resident scriptwriters and talents close to Fuwa-chan are being avoided.”

In particular, there is an increasing trend to refrain from casting Aiko Kano of ‘A Masso,’ who was singled out by ‘NEWS Post Seven’ as having triggered the controversy.

“Five years ago, Kano made a comment in a comedy skit about ‘what Naomi Osaka (26) needs’ and said ‘bleach,’ which caused a major backlash for being racist. Her agency issued an official apology at that time. ‘A Masso’ almost got blacklisted then but managed to build their current status by achieving success in competitions. Now, with this latest incident, there are voices questioning whether she harbors a dangerous, condescending mindset. The reality is, people are afraid to use her.” (explained a scriptwriter)

In response to the backlash against Fuwa-chan, a key network producer expressed regret, noting, “There is now a movement to reconsider casting decisions based solely on the number of social media followers.”

“Sponsors value young viewers. That’s why we’ve been casting talents like Fuwa-chan and popular YouTubers, thinking they have influence over the younger generation. However, just because they appear on TV doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in core ratings (viewership among men and women aged 13-49). We’re reflecting on our overly simplistic casting choices. For instance, statements like those from Kuruma Takahira (30) of ‘Reiwa Roman,’ who said ‘I won’t appear on TV,’ are resonating with the audience, but there are also risks of backlash, so opinions on him are divided within the industry.”

While Fuwa-chan may be disappearing from TV, there are other talents who seem poised to increase their presence.

“An example is Ano-chan. She has performed at the ‘NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen’ as an artist, and her quirky character makes it seem acceptable even when she makes sharp comments to big names. Also, demand for next-generation ‘gyaru’ talents like Yuchami (22) seems to be growing. The ‘gyaru’ world has strict hierarchical rules, and they are very good at using polite language when speaking to their seniors.” (producer added)

It seems like the lineup of young talents seen on TV may be undergoing a significant change.

From the September 20, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY.’