Flagship Dutch music show ‘The Voice of Holland’ has been suspended, following shocking allegations of sexual assault in the Netherlands. A program detailing the accusations of sexually transgressive behavior and abuse of power within the famous tele-hook was to be broadcast Thursday, late followingnoon, on YouTube. This case marks the first major #MeToo scandal in the Netherlands.
The diffuser RTL suspended the show last Saturday, following being contacted for the first time regarding allegations once morest the show’s group leader, Jeroen Rietbergen, and one of his coaches, Ali B. RTL fired the rapper, who denies the allegations once morest him. Two sexual assault complaints have been filed with prosecutors.
“Unacceptable” allegations
Jeroen Rietbergen, 50, resigned last weekend. In a statement, he admitted “contact of a sexual nature with women involved in the program and WhatsApp messages of a sexual nature”. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the allegations once morest the show “unacceptable” and called for a full investigation.
A veritable local institution, “The Voice of Holland” was first broadcast in the Netherlands in 2010. The allegations threw the founding version of the show into turmoil, the principle of which was declined from the United States to Afghanistan. It was an email from BOOS, claiming to have been working on its investigation since last August and to have spoken to the victims, that sparked the fire and led to Ali B’s suspension and Rietbergen’s resignation.
(The essential / AFP)
