In 2014, Mel B was groped on live television.
During an interview for “The Xtra Factor” (a companion show to “The X Factor,” which the former Spice Girl hosted), judge Louis Walsh reached behind Mel B, put his hand on her butt, and then proceeded to pat her casually while she grew more and more upset.
When exasperated breathing and eye rolls weren’t a clear enough message (she shouldn’t have even had to do that), Mel B. stopped the proceedings to call him out.
“Why are you grabbing my butt?” She asked angrily, moving away as far as she could. There was no answer or apology. The other judges and the host made some awkward jokes, and then the clip was buried away and forgotten.
The clip resurfaced this year. The righteous anger it has inspired is a clear sign of how much times have changed.
When the clip started making the rounds of Twitter in July, Walsh’s behavior was swiftly condemned. Just watch:
The fact that Walsh touched Mel B without her consent is outrageous. It’s emblematic not only of how pervasive workplace harassment is but also why the #MeToo movement is so necessary.
Walsh’s behavior is wildly inappropriate and demeaning. The fact that he believed he could get away with it (on live TV no less) shows how badly it needs to be called out — not just by the person being harassed but by those who are present as well.
The clip is a reminder of how much work still needs to be done.
While it feels wrong to suggest that someone’s discomfort be used as a “teachable moment,” this video is exactly that. Our society has a history of keeping sexual harassment, assault, and battery in the dark and blaming victims when it’s brought to light.
We can and must do better.
