The Japanese network Fuji Television and its parent company say its president and chairperson are resigning immediately to take responsibility for a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan’s top TV celebrities.

Japan's Fuji Media said on Monday its chairman and the head of its TV unit would step down immediately amidst a probe into alleged sexual misconduct by a celebrity TV host.

Koichi Minato, president of Fuji Television, resigned with immediate effect, while Shuji Kano, chairman of both Fuji Television and its parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, also stepped down. Kenji Shimizu, executive vice-president of Fuji Media Holdings, will take over as president of the television network.

The Japanese government has pulled all four advertisements it has recently run on Fuji Television Network Inc., a major broadcaster a