Creative director Hiroshi Sasaki had suggested popular plus-size celebrity Naomi Watanabe appear as a pig at the opening ceremony.
The creative director for Tokyo’s Olympic ceremonies resigned on Thursday for suggesting a female comedian appear as a pig, just weeks after the Games’ chief stepped down over insulting remarks about women.
Hiroshi Sasaki announced his decision after a report on Wednesday revealed his proposal that Naomi Watanabe, a popular celebrity and plus-size model, appear as an “Olympig” wearing pig ears at the opening ceremony.
It is just the latest headache for the coronavirus-delayed Games, which is struggling to engage with the public amid the continuing pandemic and was left reeling by former chief Yoshiro Mori’s sexist comments last month.
In a statement released early on Thursday, Sasaki apologised to Watanabe and said he understood his suggestion was inappropriate.
“My idea would be a huge insult to Ms Naomi Watanabe. This can’t be taken back,” he said.
It is just the latest headache for the coronavirus-delayed Games, which is struggling to engage with the public amid the continuing pandemic and was left reeling by former chief Yoshiro Mori’s sexist comments last month.
In a statement released early on Thursday, Sasaki apologised to Watanabe and said he understood his suggestion was inappropriate.
“My idea would be a huge insult to Ms Naomi Watanabe. This can’t be taken back,” he said.
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