The online research program Boos provides a rough picture of transgressive behavior in the production of the television program ‘The voice’. Nineteen women testified about inappropriate behavior by band leader Jeroen Rietbergen. Two complaints were filed against Ali B, one for rape. The Public Prosecution Service asks victims to report to them.
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A total of nineteen people reported to the Angry program who had complaints about The voice-band leader Jeroen Rietbergen. It mainly concerns young women, who have all been victims of transgressive behaviour, sexually explicit comments and unwanted photos. Rietbergen already resigned on Saturday after it became known that there were complaints about him. His partner Linda de Mol announced shortly afterwards that she had broken off the relationship with him. One woman filed a report against him this week after the fuss about the program.
After the almost one and a half hour broadcast, the attention will turn to Youtube probably move to Ali B. The popular rapper is the longest serving coach on the program and is said to have urged several women to have sex. A young woman who wishes to remain anonymous has reported rape.
“He gave a short tour of the studio and sat down next to me. He suddenly started kissing me. At that moment I felt in such a position that he was so powerful that I thought: “what you want, it has to happen now”. So I let it get to me. Then he had sex with me,” it sounds in her testimony.
Another woman told that she had oral sex in the shower with another man and that Ali B came in and performed unwanted actions with his fingers. Then he allegedly urged her to give him oral pleasure. This woman also filed a complaint.
Public Prosecution Service: ‘Report to us, not to the producer’
The undesirable practices referred to in the program took place in the period between 2010 and 2021. The Public Prosecution Service of the Netherlands has responded to the broadcast and asks possible victims of sexual offenses on the TV program to report to the police and not to a research agency engaged by the manufacturer.
‘Earlier conversations with parties other than the police can have negative effects on the reliability of statements made to the police. That could be harmful to a possible criminal investigation,’ according to the Public Prosecution Service. Producer ITV had asked victims on Monday to report to an independent investigation agency, but the Public Prosecution Service therefore believes that this is not a good idea.
Borsato in sight
Marco Borsato is also mentioned in the report. The singer was a coach at The voice kids and would have had inappropriate contact with underage girls there. Three women told Angry presenter Tim Hofman that Borsato had touched them on the buttocks. A 14-year-old candidate testified that Borsato touched her buttocks during a barbecue. When she ran away from him, he sought her out again afterwards. Her parents confirm that story. A thirteen-year-old candidate also came up with a similar story. Marco Borsato had previously been reported for sexual abuse.
shock wave
Angry presenter Tim Hofman’s investigation caused a shock wave through the Dutch media. On Saturday, RTL announced that it would immediately stop the production of The voice would stop. The station was informed that the online program Boos would devote a broadcast a few days later to complaints of cross-border complaints to the popular program. RTL said it was not aware of the allegations.
The voice of Holland is one of the most popular programs on Dutch television and is of Dutch origin. The concept, which is causing an international furore, was conceived by producer and media mogul John de Mol. He stated that he was already aware of the cross-border behavior of Jeroen Rietbergen. What makes things even more complex is that Rietbergen is his brother-in-law. John de Mol is the brother of Linda de Mol.
John de Mol says he was not aware of other misconduct on the set. He tells Hofman that he ‘feels absolutely responsible’. But, “That’s not to say I’ve seen it or brushed it under the rug. Or found good things that shouldn’t have been good.’
Singer Anouk, who is involved in the program as a coach, already said on Sunday that she would sever her ties with the program. She had spoken to several people about the allegations, calling the production “just a corrupt gang.” Sponsors such as T-Mobile and Lidl withdrew from the program.
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