In a disturbing incident highlighting the issue of sexual harassment, a journalist in Madrid was sexually assaulted on live television while reporting on a robbery. The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation, shedding light on the persisting problem of gender-based violence.
Isa Balado, a journalist, was providing a live report on a robbery in Madrid when an unidentified man approached her from behind and groped her. The shocking incident took place on Tuesday and was captured on camera. The man, after the assault, inquired about the television channel Balado worked for.
Balado, displaying remarkable courage, confronted the assailant, explaining that she was working. Despite the distressing situation, she attempted to continue her report. However, host Nacho Abad intervened and insisted that the man’s face be shown on camera.
Spanish authorities swiftly responded to the incident, with police confirming the arrest of the suspect on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a journalist. The arrest has been met with widespread support and relief, particularly from those who watched the incident unfold.
This unsettling event comes at a time when Spain is grappling with issues related to sexism and gender-based violence. Just last month, the former president of Spain’s football federation kissed a national team player on the lips after the Women’s World Cup final, sparking outrage and discussions about consent and boundaries.
Mediaset España, the parent company of Cuatro, where Isa Balado was reporting, issued a strong statement condemning the assault. They expressed their full support for Balado, who works as a reporter for the show “En boca de todos” (On Everyone’s Lips), and labeled the incident “absolutely intolerable.”
The incident has gained significant attention on social media platforms, prompting internet users, as well as government officials, to denounce it. Yolanda Diaz, Spain’s Labour Minister, weighed in on the matter via Twitter, attributing such incidents to the persistence of machismo and noting that aggressors often remain unrepentant even in front of the camera.
