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In the wake of #MeToo stories and controversies centering on everyone from presidential candidates to Hollywood luminaries (oh and let's not forget the actual President), it may seem like people would've gotten the hint about unwanted physical contact by now.
Especially of an intimate nature.
Buuuuuuut not so much.
Sports reporter Erin Kate Dolan is but the latest prominent woman to underline the fact that there are still plenty of people out there who could stand to learn a few things about personal space and that dreaded c-word that seems to confuse so many people (read: dudes): consent.
Dolan, who reports for online sports site PointsBet, was covering "Monday Night Football" this week at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the New York Jets were squaring up with the New England Patriots.
While interviewing fans outside the venue, Dolan suddenly found herself in an awkward position surely familiar to many women.
A Patriots fan tried to kiss her while she was on air.
Some assume being on camera is glamorous. Sometimes it’s not. I laughed off this fan trying to kiss me at MNF, bu… https://t.co/y2U2FdYaGe— Erin Kate Dolan (@Erin Kate Dolan) 1571843070.0
And the way Dolan handled it is probably familiar too: laughing it off to keep things cool, but feeling "PISSED" inside.
After all, is it really so much to ask that a person be able to do her job without being put in this at best embarrassing, at worst terrifying, position—while LIVE ON CAMERA in front of potentially millions of people to boot?
Dolan is certainly correct, too, that this sort of stuff happens to women broadcasters all the time.
Just last month, another reporter, Sara Rivest from TV station WAVE in Louisville, Kentucky, went viral for a similar on-camera incident.
Hey mister, here’s your 3 seconds of fame. How about you not touch me? Thanks!! https://t.co/5O44fu4i7y— Sara Rivest (@Sara Rivest) 1569021039.0
Rivest filed a police report and eventually received an apology letter from the man who kissed her.
And of course, there is the notorious 2003 sideline interview between Joe Namath and ESPN reporter Suzy Kolber, in which a visibly drunk Namath kept telling Kolber he wanted to kiss her. According to Huffington Post, the encounter was so embarrassing it spurred Namath to quit drinking.
Although being intoxicated is not an excuse for assault. It's just telling you to stop drinking because you assault people when you do.
As for Dolan, the majority of the internet was absolutely on her side—including, thankfully, plenty of men.
To those who say blindside blocks have no place in 2019, I give you this loser in a Pats jersey: https://t.co/UChAACNnWC— Three Year Letterman (@Three Year Letterman) 1571934376.0
As a Pats fan I’m more than happy if the team bans him from any home game in the future. No place for this anywhere https://t.co/EfGcuYWLMx— Alex McKeon (@Alex McKeon) 1571934228.0
Never okay 🙄 come on people https://t.co/4zoTrPHJDK— Kelsie Cairns (@Kelsie Cairns) 1571846126.0
MAKE THIS NONSENSE STOP. https://t.co/cIbjQp7QWk— Amy Steigerwald (@Amy Steigerwald) 1571929371.0
People. Leave reporters alone. https://t.co/UEyDlbeCrW— Kayla Tucker (@Kayla Tucker) 1571843660.0
Man i would of knocked him out, camera man is useless https://t.co/FnzfUEWuda— OBI 1 (@OBI 1) 1571931684.0
Why in God’s name would anyone think this is acceptable https://t.co/HwOLmNlrsi— Ben Showtime Spicer (@Ben Showtime Spicer) 1571848711.0
@erinkatedolan Wow, and he looked like he wasn't finished trying. What a dope.— Dusty (@Dusty) 1571844340.0
Stop. Being. Fools. https://t.co/RQJ7utQ7lU— Dave Greber (@Dave Greber) 1571908808.0
As for Dolan's employer, PointsBet?
They're taking this as seriously as she did.
There is simply no place for this. Erin, and all other broadcasters, should never have to endure this type of behav… https://t.co/zIIdW3yYrn— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBet Sportsbook) 1571865474.0
At least some people in the sports world get it.
Please tell your friends.
******
Have you listened to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!'?
In season one we explored the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
We're hard at work on season two so be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss it when it goes live.
Here's one of our favorite episodes from season one. Enjoy!