Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte responded on Tuesday to the abuses within the TV program ‘The Voice of Holland’. Rutte called the sexually transgressive behavior behind the scenes of the program ‘unacceptable and unseemly’. Meanwhile, more and more victims are coming out.
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Rutte said he was not fully aware of the facts, but would have been ‘very shocked’ by the ‘signals’ that have come out. The prime minister referred to the role of the investigation that has been opened in the meantime. ‘If this shows that criminal offenses have been committed, a report can be made and the Public Prosecution Service can institute prosecution.’
The malpractice came to light following a broadcast of BOOS, a program by presenter and journalist Tim Hofman. The report won’t be online until Thursday, but one of those involved, orchestra leader Jeroen Rietbergen, has already admitted have sexual contact with women involved in the programme. Against coach Ali B is filed a complaint, but he denies any involvement.
On Monday, the Dutch Minister of Justice Dilan Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius and State Secretary for Culture and Media Gunay Uslu called on all victims to report the crime. “Sexually transgressive behavior is unacceptable,” said Uslu. ‘There really is zero tolerance for me here.’ ITV, the producer of the program, also asks all victims to come forward.
Contract
Monday evening, two victims testified in the talk show Beau about the transgressive behavior of band leader Jeroen Rietbergen. Nienke Wijnhoven, who finished third in the show in 2018, said that Rietbergen first wanted to build a band, and then crossed the line several times. “There was a situation where he said there were all studios upstairs and I could see them.” When they were upstairs, ‘he started to feel’, Wijnhoven said in the RTL program.
She says she first felt guilty herself, and therefore did not take any steps against Rietbergen. In addition, Wijnhoven was also very insecure because of the extensive contract that the participants had to sign.
This is in line with the experience of Kirsten Berckx, who finished eighth in 2017. ‘As a musician he was pleasant to work with. And until he once made a nasty remark to me, I never had a weird vibe.’
Shut down
The Voice of Holland has been temporarily shut down following allegations of sexual misconduct. The version for children and seniors has also been discontinued. Due to the allegations, several sponsors, such as Lidl and T-Mobile, dropped out. Isla pastilles and Renault have also ended the collaboration in the meantime, writes The Telegraph.
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