A man was detained by Spanish police on suspicion of sexually assaulting a journalist after he allegedly touched her while she was being broadcast live on television.
Tuesday, as Isa Balado was covering a robbery in Madrid, a man approached her and appeared to touch her bottom; when she confronted him, he denied doing so.
The host of the program cut off Ms. Balado as she tried to speak further.
“Isa, forgive me for interrupting you… but did he just touch your bottom?” Nacho Abad asked.
The man, who was still standing next to her, was seen grinning and laughing after the reporter confirmed it and Mr. Abad instructed her to capture the “idiot” on camera.
“As much as you want to ask what channel we are from, do you really have to touch my bottom? I’m doing a live show and I’m working,” Ms Balado told him.
The man then denied touching her and made an attempt to tickle her head as he turned to leave.
According to a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, a man was later detained for allegedly assaulting a reporter while she was doing a live television show.
The news channel’s owner, Mediaset Espana, released a statement in which it expressed its support for Ms. Balado following the “absolutely intolerable situation” she endured and stated that it “categorically repudiates any form of harassment or aggression”.
Yolanda Dáz, Spain’s minister of labor, weighed in on the incident and said it should not go unpunished. The perpetrators of these sexual assaults are unrepentant in front of the camera, and machismo is what makes journalists suffer from such attacks, the author of the article on X claimed”.
This incident comes amid a sexism row in Spain, sparked by the former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
His behavior during the Women’s World Cup final drew harsh criticism, led to his resignation in the end, and resulted in a court date due to allegations of sexual assault and coercion.
Source-BBC
