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Via Vallen speaks up against sexual harassment
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Singer Via Vallen received support as well as disapproval after exposing a private message of a sexual nature. (kompas.com/Andi Muttya Keteng)
Singer Via Vallen exposed a private message on social media sent by an unnamed foreign soccer player on Tuesday.
Via claimed to have never met the “famous football player” and that she felt “humiliated”.
Posted on Via’s Instagram Story, the message said, “I want u sign for me in my bedroom, wearing sexy clothes…”
Via Vallen lagi jd TT gara2 unggahan di instastory-nya.
Meh ngajak bal-balan kok ng kasur. 🤐🤐#SaveViaVallen pic.twitter.com/dI4ouDgGx1
— Ardhiantoro (@mashen_) June 4, 2018
Via added her own words to the story, “I’ve never known and never met him. All of a sudden he sent a DM and a text like this.”
“As a singer, I was being humiliated by a famous football player in my country RIGHT NOW. I’M NOT A KIND THAT GIRL, DUDE!!!”
Read also: Time names sexual abuse 'Silence Breakers' as Person of the Year
In the post, Via covered the sender’s name and profile picture, saying she will not reveal his identity.
The incident has been widely talked about on social media and was picked up by the media.
Support poured out for Via, who rose to fame with the song “Sayang”, the video of which has been viewed more than 153 million times on YouTube.
However, there were also netizens who said she was exaggerating or looking for fame.
Dhimas Ginanjar on Twitter said Via needs to be supported so other women would speak up.
Sikap Via Vallen menghadapi sexual harassment itu perlu didukung. Supaya para perempuan berani speak up. Bayangkan, data Komnas Perempuan, Selama 2017, ada 348 ribu kasus kekerasan terhadap perempuan. Didominasi KDRT dan pelecehan di dunia cyber. Ini bukan soal lebay atau tidak.
— Dhimas Ginanjar (@dimsdalle) June 5, 2018
“According to National Commission on Violence against Women [Komnas Perempuan] data, there were 348,000 cases of violence against women. It related mostly to domestic violence and harassment in the cyber world. This is not about exaggerating.”
The tweet has been retweeted more than 8,500 times.
A Twitter account by the name of @rchbl made a compilation of comments that blamed Via for her actions.
Nunggu imsak. Iseng baca2in kolom komentar Via Vallen. Emang seserem itu yaa netizen yg otaknya pada di jempol doang 😅
RIP keadilan buat korban pelecehan seksual di Indonesia 👋
Thread komen julid netizen IG ke korban pelecehan seksual 👇
— rchbl (@rchbl) June 5, 2018
Responding to the victim-blaming tendency, Komnas Perempuan tweeted, “Dear holier-than-thou netizens, when a woman victim stands up against sexual violence, we should support her! Victim blaming only makes the perpetrators go wild!”
Dear netijen yang mahabenar, kalau ada perempuan korban berani melawan kekerasan seksual, itu wajib kita dukung! Sikap menyalahkan korban justru membuat pelaku semakin meraja rela! Catet nih! via @tribunnews https://t.co/SQGy1fEE9o pic.twitter.com/rEdc1am7jb
— Komnas Perempuan (@KomnasPerempuan) June 6, 2018
BBC Indonesia reported that Sri Nurherwati, Komnas Perempuan’s commissioner, said what happened to Via is cyber-based sexual harassment.
Read also: Japanese women confront grim taboo by saying 'me too'
Sri stated that exposing the harassment on social media was the right thing to do.
“The post should be read as a call for support, so there will be no impunity for perpetrators and the victim can receive help,” she said.
Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrowi demanded the soccer player apologize to Via.
“For Via, I hope you can be patient,” he said on Wednesday.
In a soccer match between PSMS Medan and Persib Bandung in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday, a banner graced a wall with the words "Save Via Vallen". (wng)
