Reporter groped by runner on live TV speaks out: 'You violated, objectified and embarrassed me
by Courtney Kueppers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SAVANNAH, Ga -
Reporter Alex Bozarjian was on live TV Saturday morning covering the annual Bridge Run in Savannah, Georgia, when a participant reportedly groped her as he passed by.
Bozarjian works for WSAV-TV in Savannah.
A clip of the incident was posted to Twitter and had been viewed 7 million times by Sunday evening. In the footage, Bozarjian talks about the excitement of the event when the participant smacks her buttocks while running by. Bozarjian briefly appears caught off guard by the incident before carrying on with her reporting. See the video here. (NOTE: Viewer discretion advised. Caption of linked video also contains profanity.)
Bozarjian later blasted the participant in a tweet."You violated, objectified and embarrassed me," she wrote. "No woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better."
A number of people have tweeted support for Bozarjian in response.
The viewer who posted the original clip said in a follow-up tweet, "We watch @WSAV in our house every single morning. Their staff is like extended family to us. I'm furious about this."
Robert Wells, the director of Savannah Sports Council, said in a tweet, "This will not be tolerated at our events. Glad we have race bibs and photos for easy identification."
The sports council said the individual has been identified and would be banned from participating in future events.
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