It’s scary to think that someone could be subjected to unwanted sexual advances as soon as they let their guard down, like the victim who was molested by a man at a building staircase in Tuaran. Unfortunately, public figures are even more exposed to sexual harassment because of their position.
Recently, singer Ara Johari revealed she was a victim of sexual harassment by a man who claimed to be her fan. Through a series of posts on her Instagram Stories, she detailed the horrifying incident which happened after a performance in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
According to the 26-year-old, the man had first approached her for a photo. After posing for the photo and shaking hands with the man, the singer was ready to leave as she felt uncomfortable with the situation. As she was about to go, the man tightly grabbed her hand and kissed it hard, twice, before running away.
Fortunately, he got caught by others who were in the area and heard the celeb screaming for help. Police later arrived at the scene to take the man into custody, and a report was lodged against him by Ara. The singer also shared that the man had more pictures of himself with other female artists on his phone, hinting that he could have harassed other female artists as well.
The “Bunga” songstress then warned other female public figures to be wary of those around them and urged fans to respect the boundaries of their favourite celebrities. She also shared a photo of the man with his face blurred, presumably taken at the police station.
We’re glad there were people close by to catch the man and bring him to justice – and we hope Ara is safe after the traumatic experience.