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Edinburgh Fringe female performers 'sexually harassed' | Edinburgh Fringe female performers 'sexually harassed' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Women working on shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have reported facing sexual harassment on a daily basis while out promoting their performances, the BBC has been told. | Women working on shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have reported facing sexual harassment on a daily basis while out promoting their performances, the BBC has been told. |
Some reported being groped, while others said lewd comments had left them feeling vulnerable. | Some reported being groped, while others said lewd comments had left them feeling vulnerable. |
The actors' union Equity said it was receiving reports of "more and more" incidents each year. | |
Police Scotland said it had not received any reports of harassment. | Police Scotland said it had not received any reports of harassment. |
It said it had an increased police presence. | It said it had an increased police presence. |
It is estimated that more than 30,000 male and female artists perform at the Fringe each year, across 3,500 shows. | It is estimated that more than 30,000 male and female artists perform at the Fringe each year, across 3,500 shows. |
'Cornered by three men' | 'Cornered by three men' |
Lizzie - whose surname we are not using - said that the sexual harassment she received made her alter her behaviour to try to avoid unwanted attention, while continuing to promote her show. | Lizzie - whose surname we are not using - said that the sexual harassment she received made her alter her behaviour to try to avoid unwanted attention, while continuing to promote her show. |
She told the Victoria Derbyshire programme that while handing out flyers, one man "pretended to brush something off my thigh and then moved his hand, quite forcefully, up my skirt". | She told the Victoria Derbyshire programme that while handing out flyers, one man "pretended to brush something off my thigh and then moved his hand, quite forcefully, up my skirt". |
She said on another occasion she was "cornered" by three men, who appeared to be twice her age, who said they would "only buy a ticket or take a flyer in exchange for my phone number". | She said on another occasion she was "cornered" by three men, who appeared to be twice her age, who said they would "only buy a ticket or take a flyer in exchange for my phone number". |
On other occasions, men would make comments about her appearance or "invade" her personal space "so their grope could go unnoticed", she added. | On other occasions, men would make comments about her appearance or "invade" her personal space "so their grope could go unnoticed", she added. |
Lizzie said she wished handing out flyers was not necessary, but that it was by far the most effective means of selling tickets for lesser-known productions. | Lizzie said she wished handing out flyers was not necessary, but that it was by far the most effective means of selling tickets for lesser-known productions. |
Most of the abuse is thought to take place on the Royal Mile - a busy street at the heart of the city. | Most of the abuse is thought to take place on the Royal Mile - a busy street at the heart of the city. |
Fi said she had felt under pressure to "laugh off" any harassment she endured, such as having her bottom pinched, because she was "trying to get customers". | Fi said she had felt under pressure to "laugh off" any harassment she endured, such as having her bottom pinched, because she was "trying to get customers". |
And one woman, who did not wish to be named, said that while handing out flyers: "A man stopped me on the street and started staring at me. When I asked him if he wanted a flyer he said, 'no, I just want to stare at you'." | And one woman, who did not wish to be named, said that while handing out flyers: "A man stopped me on the street and started staring at me. When I asked him if he wanted a flyer he said, 'no, I just want to stare at you'." |
Another woman said many like her felt pressured into putting up with the unacceptable behaviour of show reviewers - who can make a great difference in getting more people to watch their performances. | Another woman said many like her felt pressured into putting up with the unacceptable behaviour of show reviewers - who can make a great difference in getting more people to watch their performances. |
She said: "One reviewer would come up to me while I was flyering every day, being overly complimentary and holding a review over my head for the whole run of the Fringe. | She said: "One reviewer would come up to me while I was flyering every day, being overly complimentary and holding a review over my head for the whole run of the Fringe. |
"He made me feel really uncomfortable." | "He made me feel really uncomfortable." |
Police Scotland said it had set up two mobile police stations for the duration of the month and had increased high-visibility patrols. | Police Scotland said it had set up two mobile police stations for the duration of the month and had increased high-visibility patrols. |
It added that it had not received any complaints regarding sexual harassment. | It added that it had not received any complaints regarding sexual harassment. |
The actors' union, Equity, said many female performers had become accustomed to abuse - but it encouraged them to report all incidents to police. | The actors' union, Equity, said many female performers had become accustomed to abuse - but it encouraged them to report all incidents to police. |
Its president, Maureen Beattie, said a "slight level of hysteria" at the Fringe "seems to release this kind of underbelly of bad behaviour". | Its president, Maureen Beattie, said a "slight level of hysteria" at the Fringe "seems to release this kind of underbelly of bad behaviour". |
"It is completely and utterly unacceptable. | "It is completely and utterly unacceptable. |
"We are a workforce, and you must respect us," she added. | "We are a workforce, and you must respect us," she added. |
"Somebody recently had their bum grabbed, and that's supposed to be all right?" she questioned. "Would you do that to anyone else who was out on the street?" | "Somebody recently had their bum grabbed, and that's supposed to be all right?" she questioned. "Would you do that to anyone else who was out on the street?" |
Edinburgh Festival's Fringe Society, which supports the running of the month-long event, said: "Everyone who is part of the Fringe - be they a performer, member of the crew, producer, audience member, critic and so on - has the right to feel safe and supported." | Edinburgh Festival's Fringe Society, which supports the running of the month-long event, said: "Everyone who is part of the Fringe - be they a performer, member of the crew, producer, audience member, critic and so on - has the right to feel safe and supported." |
It added that it "takes matters of this nature very seriously" and urged those who experienced inappropriate behaviour to contact police. | It added that it "takes matters of this nature very seriously" and urged those who experienced inappropriate behaviour to contact police. |
Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. | Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. |
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