Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Jaela Bernstien, CBC Montreal Reporter Confronts Hecklers Weeks After Similar Incident In Toronto

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Jun, 2015 07:31 PM
    A Montreal journalist confronted men who hurled sexually explicit remarks at her while she was conducting a video interview — an incident that bears a striking resemblance to a recent showdown between a Toronto reporter and a group of men that sparked a country-wide discussion about the troubling trend.
     
    Jaela Bernstien, a CBC Montreal reporter, was conducting an interview on a city street when a group of men can be heard yelling vulgarities as they pass by.
     
    In a video posted on her Facebook account, Bernstien then confronts the men and asks them, on camera, whether they thought their heckling was funny.
     
    One man who covers his face says he thought the offensive language was "commentary."
     
    Another man says "you haven't heard about this joke?"
     
    Bernstien is then heard telling the men their comments are rude and make fun of rape.
     
    "I confronted them because I don't think we should stay silent. I think that's a big problem," Bernstien said in an interview.
     

    This is how I dealt with two guys who shouted F**** her in the P**** (FHRITP)*WARNING VERY EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*In...

    Posted by Jaela Bernstien on Friday, 5 June 2015
    "We're silenced often because it's screamed or shouted at us while we're in the middle of live hit and we need to stay professional because we're on live TV. I had the advantage of not being on live TV so I wanted them to answer for what they did. And I wanted to show them I'm not a silent woman."
     
    The 26-year-old reporter said she then posted the video of the Thursday encounter online because she wanted to bring attention to the issue.
     
    "I wanted to show people that this isn't ok and if it happens, we're going to confront you," she said, adding that vulgarities have been yelled at her while she was working in the past, but always involved men who were either in cars or too far away for her to confront.
     
    "This was an instance where I could confront them immediately and say hey this isn't ok, and here's why."
     
    Bernstien's entire experience echoes a confrontation between a Toronto reporter and a group of men a few weeks ago that resulted in one of the men losing his job.
     
     
    In that case, reporter Shauna Hunt confronted several men about their apparent plans to use vulgarities as she did fan interviews at a Toronto FC soccer game. The man fired over the incident apologized for his actions.
     
    The incident set social media abuzz, with many discussing the trend which has been plaguing journalists in the United States and Canada since last year.
     
    The practice has been publicly condemned by two Canadian police forces and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Majority Of Canadians Lack Full Understanding Of Sexual Consent, Poll Finds

    Majority Of Canadians Lack Full Understanding Of Sexual Consent, Poll Finds
      TORONTO — An online poll commissioned by the Canadian Women's Foundation suggests most Canadians are lacking knowledge about the definition of sexual consent.

    Majority Of Canadians Lack Full Understanding Of Sexual Consent, Poll Finds

    Replacement Named For Manitoba Judge Scrutinized For Explicit Photos

    WINNIPEG — A replacement has been named for a Manitoba judge who faced public scrutiny over sexually explicit photos.

    Replacement Named For Manitoba Judge Scrutinized For Explicit Photos

    Regulator Could Impose New Wholesale Rules, Impacting Wireless Roaming Rates

    Regulator Could Impose New Wholesale Rules, Impacting Wireless Roaming Rates
    GATINEAU, Que. — Canada's telecom regulator will issue a decision today that could affect the fees charged to consumers when they roam with their wireless devices outside of their home network areas.

    Regulator Could Impose New Wholesale Rules, Impacting Wireless Roaming Rates

    4 More Suspicious Packages Received At Courthouses In Nova Scotia

    4 More Suspicious Packages Received At Courthouses In Nova Scotia
    HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's Justice Department says police are investigating after four more courthouses across the province received suspicious packages today.

    4 More Suspicious Packages Received At Courthouses In Nova Scotia

    Omar Khadr Bail Decision Delayed Until Thursday

    Omar Khadr Bail Decision Delayed Until Thursday
    EDMONTON — An Alberta judge says she needs more time to make a decision on whether former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr should be released on bail.

    Omar Khadr Bail Decision Delayed Until Thursday

    Shawn Merrick, Dangerous B.C. Man Who Escaped Custody Is A Suspect In Multiple Robberies In Surrey

    Shawn Merrick, Dangerous B.C. Man Who Escaped Custody Is A Suspect In Multiple Robberies In Surrey
    SURREY, B.C. — A 43-year-old man who is the subject of a Canada-wide warrant for escaping custody is now a suspect in multiple robberies in Surrey and Langley, B.C.

    Shawn Merrick, Dangerous B.C. Man Who Escaped Custody Is A Suspect In Multiple Robberies In Surrey