Japan’s Fuji TV ends ‘Terrace House’ reality show after Hana Kimura’s death
- Female wrestler’s suspected suicide is thought to be linked to cyberbullying
- Kimura had been target of hateful messages online after episode in which she got angry with male cast member over washing of her wrestling costume
Japanese reality TV show Terrace House has suspended its production for the 2019-2020 season after the sudden death of a 22-year-old cast member, it said on its website.
Hana Kimura, a professional wrestler and star of the latest season of the popular Netflix reality TV show, died on Saturday, according to World Wonder Ring Stardom, the professional wrestling organisation that represented Kimura.
Local media reported that a suicide note was found at her Tokyo home, as she struggled with a wave of online harassment.
Her apparent suicide has shocked fans around the world and raised immediate soul-searching over cyberbullying.
“We have decided to suspend the production of Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020. We take this issue very seriously and would like to continue to respond earnestly,” the show said on its Twitter account.
