J-pop talent agency boss told to quit over alleged predator Johnny Kitagawa’s abuse

Most of us are just now hearing all the sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand. If you’re not up to date on that, you can get the horrible details from this weekend’s exposé HERE. The gist of it is, several women have now come forward with stories from 2006-2013 — including a girl who was just 16 at the time. And there are receipts.

Russell Brand 's PR agency has removed his profile from their websites after he denied 'serious' allegations put to him.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor TikTok has been fined €345 million — about $367 million — by an Irish regulatory agency, which ruled the app violated the EU’s data-privacy laws with respect to processing information on children users. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), in addition to the fine, ordered TikTok “to bring its processing into compliance” with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) within three months.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Johnny and Associates, the high-profile Japanese talent agency whose deceased founder and long-time president Johnny Kitagawa has been revealed as a serial sexual abuser, will forgo some of its fee income as a step toward victim compensation. The move appears to be an attempt to lessen the company’s toxic brand following the now-confirmed revelations about the late Kitagawa’s predatory behavior.

​​accusations came to light targeting the late Johnny Kitagawa, who was the former head of the Johnny and Associates business. He was arguably one of the most influential figures in Japan’s entertainment industry and was the gateway to stardom for many young performers.He had faced allegations of sexual misconduct while he was alive and some were proven in a civil court, but he never faced charges.

French filmmaker Claire Denis has been announced as the jury president for the Official Section of the 71st San Sebastian Film Festival, running from September 22-30.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Fujishima ‘Julie’ Keiko has quit as president of Johnny and Associates, the Japanese talent agency that is embroiled in a poisonous child sex abuse scandal. The alleged abuses were committed over several decades by company founder the late Johnny Kitagawa, Fujishima’s uncle, two external reports have found. Some of the boys were still of elementary school age when they were allegedly abused. Fujishima will be replaced as president by actor Higashiyama Noriyuki, a long-term employee of the powerhouse agency and host of the TV Asahi show “Sunday LIVE!!” The company held a press conference on Thursday to announce the leadership change and take press questions over its responses and remedies to the scandal. During the event, both Higashiyama and Fujishima acknowledged that Kitagawa committed acts of sexual abuse against young agency talents prior to his death at age 87 in 2019.

RIIZE will be changing their official fandom name.

Spirited Away fans have attempted to get tickets for the film’s stage adaptation in London.Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 Studio Ghibli classic, the stage version originally debuted in Japan in February 2022. Last month, it was announced the production would have its European premiere at the London Coliseum from April 30, 2024, running for 12 weeks.Pre-sale tickets for those who signed up for priority booking went on sale today (September 5) at 10am BST.

A man arrested on suspicion of headbutting former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has been released by police on bail until later this month, it was confirmed today.

When Venice head Alberto Barbera announced his competition lineup in July, he confessed that he and his selection team were surprised to see one submission in their database: a feature project by Japanese filmmaker Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. 

YOASOBI have shared an exclusive playlist of J-pop recommendations to accompany the launch of NME’s The Cover.The Japanese duo of Ikura and Ayase are on this week’s (September 4) edition of The Cover, a renewal of NME’s commitment to supporting emerging talent across the globe on a weekly basis. Every week, a rising artist will feature on The Cover – you can read YOASOBI’s profile here, written by JX Soo and featuring photography by John Choi.Accompanying the story is an exclusive playlist curated by YOASOBI: “J-pop You Should Listen To”.

Lizzo has unveiled a new ‘do amid the ongoing controversy surrounding that lawsuit filed by some of her former backup dancers.

UPDATED, reflecting latest details about cuts: Another talent agency is having to trim personnel.

Her character is usually the life and soul of the Dingle household, but Emmerdale actress Karen Blick reveals she’s had to tap into darker emotions for Lydia’s upcoming storyline.The 48-year-old plays Lydia Dingle, who arrived in the village as a bereavement counsellor. She later returned with her depressed cockatoo, Steve, named after her dead husband. Initially on the periphery, Lydia became enmeshed in village life when she began dating Sam Dingle before becoming his wife.

A man charged with the murder of a Scottish woman whose body was found in a tent has appeared in court.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief External investigators hired by Johnny and Associates, the Japanese talent agency whose founder, the late Johnny Kitagawa, is accused of sexually abusing his young clients, have called for the resignation of company president Julie Fujishima. Published Tuesday, the report said that the company must accept that the claims of abuse are true, apologize and make amends. It recommended that Fujishima, who is Kitagawa’s niece, depart in order to avoid issues of family control and to ensure “total reform” of the company.

A Scottish Labour councillor has been charged in relation to alleged grooming offences following a police investigation in Fife.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief HYBE Corp., the K-Pop powerhouse behind BTS, and the U.S.’s Geffen Records are to bring their global girl group audition efforts to Netflix as a docuseries that will launch next year. The two music companies announced the 2024 series and a companion-piece online show that kicks off on Thursday as their “The Debut: Dream Academy” moves up a gear. Having begun the selection process in November 2021 and screened some 120,000 submissions from young women hopefuls from around the world, they have now narrowed the field to just 20 candidates.

Lisa is having a fun night out!