Entertainer Aaron Yan (炎亞綸) and comedian “Nono” Chen Hsuan-yu (陳宣裕) are facing allegations of sexual assault as controversies rock showbusiness after a recent spate of accusations against political and media figures.
The Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office last night announced a probe into allegations that Yan leaked a sex video of himself and musician Chiu Yao-le (邱耀樂), who uses the nickname Raku on YouTube.
Earlier in the day, Yan upstaged a news conference that Chiu had called.
Photo: CNA
Yan entered the room, bowed twice to Chiu as the latter broke down in tears, and spoke for about 10 minutes before Chiu had composed himself.
Chiu, who lowered his head when Yan entered the room and did not look up for some time, asked Yan: “Was it you who disseminated the sex video?”
Yan denied doing so, saying that it was leaked after he took his mobile phone to be repaired.
File photo: Taipei Times
He has said that a technician downloaded the video and circulated it among his friends.
Chiu said he was not sure about accepting Yan’s apology.
Prosecutors later launched an investigation, saying that the allegations went beyond mere sexual harassment, as Chiu has said that he was 16 when he was in the relationship with Yan.
File photo: Taipei Times
Judicial officials said that as Chiu was underage at the time, Yan might have contravened the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒少性剝削防制條例) by having sex with a minor and disseminating a sex video involving a minor.
An investigation is under way, prosecutors added.
Yan and comedian Chen are among several figures in the entertainment industry mired in sexual misconduct scandals in the past few days after allegations against entertainer Mickey Huang (黃子佼), actor and singer Wang Yu-sheng (王宥勝), and show host and comedian Jeffery Hsu (許傑輝).
The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office called on people to provide evidence and testimony to initiate an investigation after several women, including YouTuber Anissa (小紅老師), accused Chen of forcing himself upon them in vehicles and parking lot washrooms.
Chen initially denied knowing Anissa and others who posted the accusations online and said he could not recall any such incidents.
However, more than 20 women have made accusations since Tuesday that Chen assaulted them.
Anissa yesterday told a news conference that she had been in touch with the other accusers.
Chen’s agent wrote on Facebook that the comedian would stop taking part in entertainment events with immediate effect and would undergo “sincere reflection.”
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