Japanese entertainment company Johnny’s has changed its name to Smile-Up following its founder’s sexual abuse scandal coming to light. Smile-Up will focus on compensating the victims and will close after it finishes doing so. However, current entertainers who still have contracts with Smile-Up are free to join a new independent company. [Thanks, ABC News!]
The new company will essentially be the current Johnny’s roster (those who wish to stay) but without Johnny’s name and reputation. Fans will also be able to vote on its name. Reparations will begin in November 2023, with 325 people thus far already signed up for the compensation program. However, there is no information about how much money the victims will get.
Rumors about Johnny Kitagawa, the perpetrator and founder of the Johnny’s company, allegedly sexually abusing men he hired have been floating about over the years. Kitagawa, who died in 2019, produced and managed several popular boy bands such as SMAP, Arashi, V6, and KAT-TUN.
Johnny’s will change its name to Smile-Up until it finishes reimbursing victims of Johnny Kitagawa. It will then close down, and its entertainers will switch over to a new company that’s in the process of being set up.
