Complaint filed with RCMP after CBC reporter kissed by stranger on camera

SQUAMISH, B.C. – Another television reporter doing a live report received a jarring distraction after a man kissed her on the cheek.

CBC reporter Megan Batchelor was covering a music festival in Squamish, B.C., north of Vancouver, on Friday when the incident happened.

She was doing a live hit for the network's 6 p.m newscast when video the network aired shows the man came up from behind, kissed her on the cheek and took a selfie.

The CBC quotes Batchelor as saying she was "rattled" by the encounter and felt like the unidentified man was trying to interfere with her ability to do her job.

The CBC is reporting that Batchelor has made a complaint to the RCMP and the network is asking anyone who knows the identity of the man to contact police.

The CBC said in an emailed statement on Sunday that Friday's incident is another example of a disturbing trend and the network will do everything it can to ensure its journalists are safe when reporting from the field.

There have been a number of incidents recently where female television reporters have been the subject of abuse from people passing by.

An employee with the Ontario electrical utility Hydro One was let go earlier this year after he shouted crude remarks to a Toronto reporter who works for Citytv.

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2 responses

  1. She filed a report? Fire her! What a piece of trash…

  2. Good thing she doesn’t live in Europe, she might have been kissed on both cheeks!!!

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.