A 10k runner was recently identified and banned from future races after slapping a female reporters butt as she did a live news report near the race track.
Now, it's been revealed the perpetrator is actually youth minister from Savannah, Georgia.
Footage of the incident quickly went viral after Alex Bozarjian retweeted the footage, calling for better treatment of women everywhere.
To the man who smacked my butt on live TV this morning: You violated, objectified, and embarrassed me. No woman sho… https://t.co/jhnEW3z8Dq— Alex Bozarjian (@Alex Bozarjian)1575741452.0
The next day, the Savannah Sports Council identified the man and reported his identity to the wronged parties after banning him from any future races.
(3/4) Yesterday afternoon we identified him and shared his information with the reporter and her station.— SAV Sports Council (@SAV Sports Council)1575833869.0
(4/4) We will not tolerate behavior like this at a Savannah Sports Council event. We have made the decision to ban… https://t.co/UZjmdBleDQ— SAV Sports Council (@SAV Sports Council)1575833873.0
It turns out the 42-year-old who slapped Bozarjian's butt is Tommy Callaway, a youth minister at Pittman Park UMC. It was also reported by Heavy that he is a boy scout leader.
lol of course he is https://t.co/GZlDzF1Oez— internet jew (@internet jew)1576006024.0
Tommy Callaway sexually assaulted a reporter on live television. He is a youth pastor and a Boy Scout leader becaus… https://t.co/UCx7dg5MVq— Lady Wave (@Lady Wave)1576023061.0
Callaway's lawyer has described him as a "loving husband and father" who didn't intend to hurt anyone with his actions. The truth, however, is that he assaulted Bozarjian and his intentions don't change the fact that he did hurt her, which she made clear in an appearance on CBS This Morning.
A reporter is sharing her story after she says she was assaulted during a live TV report. @WSAVAlexB was covering a… https://t.co/MxayxGAWmw— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning)1575984831.0
“I think immediately after you kind of sort through the vulnerability of the situation, you are inundated with some… https://t.co/TQam5JgU79— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning)1575984977.0
"He took my power... He helped himself to a part of my body." -- @WSAVAlexB https://t.co/ekVFa6Nf1B— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning)1575985152.0
@wsavalexb "It's not okay to help yourself to a woman's body just because you feel like it… in order to make any ki… https://t.co/2XUszN29px— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning)1575988145.0
Twitter wondered how Callaway's church would respond to his behavior.
So, will the church respond to this youth pastor's action as as *boys will be boys* or *It's just locker room* humo… https://t.co/9VFPqh4Dey— Dee Parsons (@Dee Parsons)1575917731.0
I was convinced this dude was much younger for some reason. 43. I can't even imagine the excuses ahead. https://t.co/7LYZNdvVzA via @nypost— ❄Mikki Kendall❄ (@❄Mikki Kendall❄)1576000840.0
Twitter was pretty disgusted with the man's behavior even BEFORE they found out he teaches children.
wild that his lawyers says “he had no criminal intent to harm ms. bozarjian” because men and society-at-large don’t… https://t.co/bvi3Ms6YBN— roslyn talusan (@roslyn talusan)1576013992.0
Kudos to the reporter for standing up and fighting about this, even as she'll undoubtedly be told to "lighten up" https://t.co/hCHYrNNu4g— Dan Nguyen (@Dan Nguyen)1576003798.0
Now, many are waiting on word of further discipline from Callaway's places of work.
“Mr. Calloway did not act with any criminal intentions” is just the fancy way of saying “he didn’t realize there’d… https://t.co/f8pGVnUW9d— Cold Crash Pictures (@Cold Crash Pictures)1576008634.0
The man who slapped this anchor's butt on live TV is a youth minister. Will there be any church discipline? https://t.co/TwTfZAlYBi— Katelyn Beaty (@Katelyn Beaty)1575938562.0
Unwanted sexual touch is assault, and it seems Mr. Callaway is learning that lesson the hard way. Telling his youth that might just be the best lesson he ever teaches.