Image Credit: Yahoo! Japan
On September 2, comedian Smiley Kikuchi, 52, took to his “X” account to address the spread of false rumors regarding fellow comedian Yasuko. The rumors emerged after Yasuko participated as a runner in the charity marathon broadcast during Nippon Television’s “24 Hour TV 47,” held from August 31 to September 1. The marathon aimed to raise funds for child welfare facilities across Japan.
Yasuko completed the marathon successfully, but rumors began circulating on social media claiming that she had been paid 10 million yen for her participation. In response, Yasuko took to “X” to refute these claims, asserting that she had not received any payment for her involvement in the charity event. She urged the public to refrain from believing unfounded speculation and rumors.
Kikuchi echoed Yasuko’s sentiments by quoting her post and expressing frustration over the false claims. He highlighted the absurdity of the situation by pointing out that some individuals were demanding proof of Yasuko’s non-receipt of the purported payment, while others continued to propagate the rumors. Kikuchi criticized those who unquestioningly accept rumors, suggesting that they are more suspicious of the individual refuting the claim rather than the origin of the misinformation.
Kikuchi also expressed concern over the broader issue of misinformation in the digital age, lamenting that while social media and generative AI technologies are advancing, human discernment has not kept pace. He emphasized that the real danger lies not in the rumors themselves but in the widespread acceptance of unverified information and the refusal to critically evaluate such claims.
The incident underscores the challenges of navigating truth in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly, prompting a call for greater scrutiny and skepticism from the public.