Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Teen Tennis Player Speaks Out After Video Of 'Creepy' Interaction With Her Dad At U.S. Open Goes Viral

Teen Tennis Player Speaks Out After Video Of 'Creepy' Interaction With Her Dad At U.S. Open Goes Viral
@TheBoiledEgg/Twitter

Pro-tennis player Sara Bejlek has spoken after the manner in which she and her father–along with her coach–celebrated her victory at the US Open raised concerns of sexual harassment.

After the 16-year-old Czech player defeated her British opponent Heather Watson at Friday's women's qualifying rounds, she headed over to her father Jaroslav Bejlek and her coach Jakub Kahoun for a congratulatory embrace.


In a viral clip, Bejlek was seen hugging her father–who firmly patted her backside repeatedly before giving his daughter a smooch on the lips.

Her coach also repeated the gesture of a job well done by continuously patting her derriere.

Some found the interaction disturbing and inappropriate.

One fan tweeted:

"Whether it was a coach or a family member, this is one creepy stuff.

Another wrote:

"There's absolutely no reason to touch a 16yo girl on her butt like that. It's beyond inappropriate. As the video progressed it got worse and worse."
"And that's not because I see her as 'sexual object' or am projecting as some in comments and quotes are alluding."

The word "creepy" was a common descriptor being tossed around online.




While many social media users expressed their objections, there were others who accused them of sexualizing a possible culture-specific interaction.





Bejlek responded, telling iSport:

"I saw the video. It was a spontaneous reaction of the whole team. We rejoiced."

She said she and her team came up with a decision to prevent a similar reaction in the future.

"It may certainly seem inconvenient and uncomfortable to some, but we have already discussed it with the team."
"It won’t happen again."

Bejlek added:

"Dad is my dad and always will be. And I’ve known the coach since I was eight years old. He tapes me, he massages me."
"If something similar happened in the Czech Republic, no one would deal with it."
"But since we are in America, everyone comments on it. But as I say, we talked and it won’t happen again."

More from Trending

Nancy Mace
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Nancy Mace Rages After Nobody Will Print Her Transphobic Holiday Wrapping Paper Design

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was called out after sharing a photo of her anti-trans wrapping paper design to lament that "no company" would print it due to its "offensive" nature.

Mace, who has courted significant controversy for her efforts to bar Sarah McBride, the first transgender member of Congress, from using the bathroom that corresponds with her gender identity, shared on social media that she attempted to create custom wrapping paper, seemingly intended for raising campaign funds.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eugenio Derbez; Selena Gomez
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images, Amy Sussman/Getty Images

'Coda' Star Apologizes After Selena Gomez's Classy Response To His 'Emilia Pérez' Criticism

Actor Eugenio Derbez walked back his harsh review of Selena Gomez's Spanish in the new musical crime comedy film Emilia Pérez after she responded with class to the tough criticism of not being a fluent speaker.

Gomez stars as Spanish-speaking character Jessi Del Monte, the wife of a cartel kingpin who undergoes gender-affirming surgery to start a new life as the titular Emilia Pérez.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump
NBC

Trump Dragged After Claiming He 'Started Using' The Word 'Groceries' During The Election

President-elect Donald Trump was dragged after claiming he "started using" the word "groceries" during the election—before asking, "Who uses the word?"

Trump, in an interview with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker, emphasized the soaring grocery prices affecting millions of Americans as a pivotal factor in his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the White House.

Keep ReadingShow less
man pointing up
Alex Sheldon on Unsplash

People Break Down Their 'I F*cking Knew It!' Experiences

Sometimes you feel like you just know something is true, even if you can't prove it.

You may find out you're completely wrong. People usually don't like to talk about or acknowledge when that happens.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hope Walz; Joe Rogan
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Tim Walz's Daughter Reveals Genius Joe Rogan 'Litmus Test' She Uses When Meeting Men Online

There are tons of red flags when it comes to dating.

But for Hope Walz, daughter of Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, one stands above all the rest: what celebrities a guy follows on Instagram.

Keep ReadingShow less