DW Espanol’s Colombian correspondent Julieth Gonzalez Theran was groped on live television while providing a live news report from the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Theran was kissed and had her breast grabbed by a man at the start of her news report and continued reporting throughout the broadcast until her segment had finished.
However, both Theran and DW Espanol both released statements after the incident condemning the rise in attacks on female reporters.
A DW reporter was sexually harassed while covering the #WorldCup. @JULIETHCGT was kissed, groped by a man while reporting from Moscow.
The incident can be seen here (00:13).
Sexual harassment is not okay. It needs to stop. In football, and elsewhere.pic.twitter.com/O0S1a1F4Es
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 20, 2018
“We do not deserve this treatment,” Gonzalez Theran said. “We are equally valuable and professional.
“I had been at the scene for two hours to prepare for the broadcast and there had been no interruptions. When we went live, this fan took advantage of the situation. But afterwards, when I checked to see if he was still there, he was gone.
“For me it is an isolated incident. There are always fans that compliment you and behave respectfully. This one went too far.”
DW also published an article on the incident titled ‘DW reporter sexually harassed during World Cup broadcast‘ and highlighted numerous incidents including female reporters who had been harassed while reporting on games.
Mexican reporter Maria Fernanda Mora was sexually harassed while reporting from a football match between Guadalajara and Toronto when she was surrounded and groped by celebrating fans during a live broadcast for Fox Sports.
