<figure id="attachment_422083" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 677px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-422083"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="136d3627"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/04/4641365bde87f796916618c7aa87b78a.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-422083" class="wp-caption-text">Mrs. Devi was booked for assaulting a female employee. The impact on TV is a matter of concern.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>She has a history of grandstanding with a right-wing group</h2>
Madame Dewi (85), never short of controversy, has once again found herself at the center of an incident.
On April 16, it was revealed that Madame Dewi, also known as Dewi Sukarno, had been sent papers by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on charges of assault.
In February of this year, at a restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo, it is alleged that Madame Dewi threw a champagne glass at a female employee of the company she represents. Madame Dewi denies the accusation, stating, &#8220;I did not throw any glasses.&#8221;
Fortunately, the woman was not injured, but this incident brings to mind a similar event that occurred more than 30 years ago in the United States.
&#8220;In January 1992, at a hotel in Aspen, Colorado, Madame Dewi struck Minnie Osmeña, the granddaughter of the fourth president of the Philippines, Sergio Osmeña, in the face with a champagne-filled glass, causing a severe injury that required 37 stitches. Dewi was arrested for assault and sentenced to 60 days in prison and a $700 fine, but she served only 37 days due to good behavior,&#8221; said a staff member from a talk show.
Though this incident is similar, it seems that Madame Dewi has learned little from her past actions.
When arguing with Madame Dewi, it might be best to avoid drinking champagne or placing anything on the table.
This is not the first time Madame Dewi has been involved in police matters, and reports of &#8220;assault incidents&#8221; have surfaced on several occasions.
&#8220;In April 2009, when North Korea launched a missile, Madame Dewi, who had ties with the country, made statements defending it on a TV show. This angered right-wing groups, who protested in front of her house. In response, Madame Dewi threw a flowerpot from her second-floor window, breaking the mirror of the protest vehicle. She later confronted a right-wing man, who then broke her camera,&#8221; said a sports newspaper reporter.
Quite a bold and fiery response.
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="For the &quot;TV station's response&quot; to Mrs. Devi, see ......"></div>
<h2>The difference between Madame Dewi and Fuwa-chan</h2>
In January 2014, during the recording of the variety show Okusama wa Monster 2 (TBS), Madame Dewi got into an argument with a female participant, which escalated to the point where she slapped the woman three times. The incident was cut from the broadcast, but the angered woman filed a police report. Eventually, a settlement was reached.
There are also reports that Madame Dewi repeatedly kicked the legs of a female talent sitting next to her, after that talent made critical remarks about Dewi.
It’s not just assault incidents; there are also numerous problematic statements and online harassment via social media.
Ironically, at 85 years old, Madame Dewi seems to possess an energy that belies her age. However, many people are puzzled as to why she hasn’t disappeared from TV despite the constant controversies.
On social media, some have voiced their confusion:
&#8220;Fuwa-chan was forced to leave the entertainment industry after just one post on social media, so why is Madame Dewi okay?&#8221;
A former producer of a variety show on commercial TV explains:
&#8220;There’s an age gap, a difference in character, and a difference in career between Fuwa-chan and Madame Dewi. But more than that, Fuwa-chan had a lot of latent anti-fans. Madame Dewi’s behavior is certainly outrageous, and it&#8217;s not something we can overlook, but unlike Fuwa-chan, not everyone thinks &#8216;this is absolutely unforgivable.&#8217; There’s a certain percentage of people who empathize with her, and Madame Dewi is well aware of that. That’s the key difference.&#8221;
In the past, women with rich life experiences, like the late Sachiyo Nomura and Mitsuyo Asaka, were able to speak candidly as goikenban (public figures who give blunt opinions). Madame Dewi, with her refined tone yet sharp remarks, gained attention for being a unique character.
&#8220;The reason she resonates with viewers is that she speaks on behalf of what they’re thinking, with no filter, and a fearlessness that people find appealing. She is undoubtedly a true celebrity, being the first lady of a country, and even after being exiled due to a coup, she became a talent in her birthplace, Japan. Despite her age, she continues to appear on variety shows, taking on various challenges. Older generations who have lived through turbulent times likely empathize with her colorful and tumultuous life,&#8221; the former producer adds.
The reason Madame Dewi’s popularity hasn’t waned is thought to be tied to this connection with her audience. However, when it comes to the television stations that continue to cast her despite the controversies, the same producer warns:
“I think it’s problematic that even though they claim she’s too risky to appear on live shows, they still cast her because she brings in ratings. There’s too much kowtowing going on. She might eventually cause a bigger problem that leads to the TV stations being criticized.”
With this recent incident, it seems difficult for her to continue appearing on television, but a different source from another commercial network claims:
“Every time Madame Dewi causes a scandal, there’s talk of her being taken off TV, but in reality, the TV stations rarely receive complaints about her. She understands the intentions of the production side very well, and she has broad appeal across generations. She’s a valuable asset to TV. Even with this latest issue, it&#8217;s essentially an internal problem, so I think the dust will settle quickly. I don’t think she’ll disappear from TV.”
It seems that Madame Dewi’s &#8220;talent life&#8221; will not come to an end anytime soon.
Having overcome hardships that ordinary people could never experience, her vitality seems boundless.

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (Entertainment Journalist)

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

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