Matthijs van Nieuwkerk Apologizes for ‘Work Culture’ at ‘The World Goes On’: New Report Reveals Misconduct

By our entertainment editors

Feb 01, 2024 at 4:04 PM Update: 2 hours ago

Matthijs van Nieuwkerk has again apologized for his “part in the work culture behind the scenes” at The world goes on. The presenter does this in response to the report of the Van Rijn committee that was presented on Thursday.

“It is good that people have been able to tell their stories openly. I hope that they have felt heard and supported in this process,” Van Nieuwkerk said. “The most important thing is that, partly thanks to this report, we are finding our way to a better TV world. I have previously expressed my regret about my part in the work culture behind the scenes at DWDD. I repeat that here.”

“I realize more than ever that as a presenter I have an important role model. I look forward to being part of programs that we enjoy working on together.”

The 63-year-old presenter previously apologized for his behavior on the program. He did that after de Volkskrant had published about accusations against him. “That we have made so many people unhappy behind the scenes. We have made them sick. Then you are completely ashamed,” he said last year. NRC.

Almost all former employees report misconduct

The Van Rijn Committee was established in November 2022 to investigate The world goes on. Because reports of similar cases were received in other programs, the committee expanded the investigation to the entire NPO.

This research shows that three in four respondents from the public broadcaster have experienced misconduct in the workplace. A total of 2,500 people participated in the study.

Also the working conditions are specific DWDD have been extensively researched. Almost all former employees the committee spoke to said they had encountered inappropriate behavior in the workplace.

‘Strong verbal statements’ came across as intimidating

According to the committee, this involved not only bullying behavior, but also discrimination and intimidation, such as shouting and tirades. Sexual jokes were also made and persistent requests for sexual contact were made. The fact that managers slept with colleagues in subordinate positions was considered normal, according to the report.

Van Nieuwkerk (who is not mentioned by name in the report) is also said to have had a major influence on the atmosphere. The former employees said they experienced his “frequent, disproportionately intense and negative verbal statements” as intimidating.

After the misconduct at the talk show came to light, Van Nieuwkerk immediately resigned from his job at BNNVARA. At the beginning of December it was announced that the television maker is making his return to television. From April 21, the presenter can be seen on Sunday evenings in a current program full of music on RTL 4. In addition, other newly developed programs for RTL and Videoland are being discussed.

RTL thinks it is time for Van Nieuwkerk to return to work

RTL announced on Thursday that it is “time for Van Nieuwkerk to return to work as a presenter”. According to the commercial channel, Van Nieuwkerk has made his mistakes as a presenter DWDD “publicly acknowledged, apologized and shown self-reflection” and has gained new insights into his behavior.

Former NPO boss Frans Klein has also acknowledged that “things did not go well”. DWDD. “That is very sad and I am sincerely sorry,” Klein said through his lawyers.

For the study, 69 people completed a questionnaire about their time DWDD entered. The committee also spoke to 66 former employees.

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2024-02-01 15:04:18


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