Spanish journalist is sexually harassed on camera while reporting live from the street in Madrid
Cuatro reporter Isa Balado was reporting on a robbery when a passerby appeared to touch her inappropriately, leading to on-air confrontation. He was arrested.
🚨🚨🚨 AGRESIÓN SEXUAL EN DIRECTO a nuestra reportera @IsaBalado: "¿De verdad me tienes que tocar el culo?"
— En boca de todos (@EnBocaDe_Todos) September 12, 2023
Y tremenda reacción de @Nacho_Abad: "¡Pásame a este tío tonto!" pic.twitter.com/JOcbTLSFwI
Television journalist Isa Balado from broadcaster Cuatro was reporting on a robbery in Madrid on Tuesday, September 12 when a man approached her from the back and touched her improperly live on air. The incident led to a huge outcry on social media platforms, reviving discussions about hostile work environments for women in Spain.
The objectionable incident came on the heels of the former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony – which led to widespread condemnation, protests, strikes, and, finally, Rubiales’s resignation.
In this case, as Balado was reporting outside a convenience store where shopkeepers were arrested for beating up a burglar who tried to rob the shop, a man approached her and touched her inappropriately. While Balado tried to remain calm and move away from the man to continue reporting, she was interrupted by the news anchor, Nacho Abad, from the studio.
“Isa, sorry to interrupt, did they just touch your butt?” the anchor asked, as translated by Euro News. When Balado replied, “Yes”, Abad asked her to show the man on camera.
“As much as you want to ask me what channel we’re from, do you really have to touch my rear?” Balado asked the offender, as translated by The Guardian. “I’m live on air and I’m working.” The man denied touching her. The Madrid police subsequently arrested him.
🚩Detenido por agredir sexualmente a una reportera mientras estaba realizando un directo de televisión #Madrid pic.twitter.com/vKkBjNXJve
— Policía Nacional (@policia) September 12, 2023
El machismo es lo que hace que periodistas tengan que sufrir agresiones sexuales como esta y que los agresores estén sin ningún tipo de remordimiento delante de la cámara. No puede quedar impune.
— Yolanda Díaz (@Yolanda_Diaz_) September 12, 2023
La profesional @IsaBalado jamás tendrá la culpa. #SeAcabó
pic.twitter.com/0RM5jvGyyC