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Actor Yūdai Natsume Posts Apology After Agency Cancels Contract Due to Past Tweets

posted on by Jennifer Sherman

Actor Yūdai Natsume posted an apology and messages from himself and his lawyer on Twitter on Monday. The post was a response to the recent buzz surrounding Natsume's "inappropriate posts" in the past. In the apology post, Natsume noted that because he is no longer with his agency Omnia he did not have an appropriate venue to release a response, so he decided to post the messages on Twitter.

Natsume apologized for the "deep wounds, serious trouble, and worry" he caused related to various Twitter posts in the past. He confirmed, "As for the posts that became public recently, the majority were undoubtedly posts I made at that time as a student." He said that as he entered the entertainment industry, he disappointed and betrayed the "expectations and trust" of his "many precious fans and staffers." He expressed deep regret for his actions and said he "sincerely accepts" the criticism he has received. Natsume said he is "putting all [his] effort into regaining everyone's trust."

Natsume's lawyer emphasized in his message that the actor was 16 years old and conducted himself as if he was merely joking among friends when he made the inappropriate tweets. He noted that Natsume is "deeply reflecting" on his actions. The lawyer asked for support in Natsume's future growth as a person, and asked people to refrain from sending death threats, which the lawyer has recently seen.

The talent agency Omnia posted an apology and then cancelled Natsume's contract in May after investigating reports of his inappropriate tweets. Through the investigation, the company was able to confirm Natsume's "inappropriate posts" from around 2013. Omnia said that "although there were no damaging actions" per se, the company decided to "take into account social influence" in its decision to cancel Natsume's contract.

According to online reports, Natsume had tweeted "misogynist and discriminatory remarks" in "extreme tweets." The posts contained various derogatory remarks toward women.

Natsume played Mitsuru Tenma in the Ensemble Stars! Extra Stage: Judge of Knights and Ensemble Stars! On Stage: To the Shining Future stage plays, which ran in Japan last September and from January to February, respectively.

Sources: Yūdai Natsume's Twitter account, Nikkan Sports via Nijimen


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