A 2014 clip of Mel B calling out Louis Walsh after he grabbed her bum has resurfaced as people are sharing it as an example of the difficulties women go through.
The incident occurred on The Xtra Factor in 2014, when the then-judges, made up of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Mel and Louis sat and talked to host Sarah Jane Crawford about the live show.
Mel B was sat next to the then 61-year-old Wash, who had his arm around her waist, and he proceeds to tap her on the bum whilst answering a question.
After a few moments spent frowning, Mel B stops the interview and turns to him: “Hold on a second, why are you grabbing my butt?” she demands.
Sarah Jane comments on it, too: “Louis! Hands where we can see them please.”
Walsh and Simon Cowell laugh, whilst the singer moves away and called his actions “inappropriate.”
The clip did not age well, and with fresh eyes on such interactions thanks to #MeToo, people online are scrutinising it once more
@misslaneym I love how she stopped, pointed it out, moved over and made an appropriate disgusted face. So many wome… https://t.co/3IRIDrDVE1— Lucy Blue 💙😷 (@Lucy Blue 💙😷) 1560815441
@misslaneym @ScarredNtScared Vile!— Roly West (@Roly West) 1560871348
Women were reminded of the power dynamics that often make it difficult for women to speak out in such cases
@Live2teachLives @misslaneym Sometimes it’s hard to stop a man when they have a power grab over a woman like a prom… https://t.co/aUFD12ZfJu— Traci Cottrell (@Traci Cottrell) 1560866320
Walsh's actions drew anger
wtf I’ve watched Mel b and Louis Walsh on tv since I was a child and I’ve never seen him do anything like this what… https://t.co/SUP2mVEeGO— Amber CJ⚡️⚡️ (@Amber CJ⚡️⚡️) 1560856292
@k8pinto @misslaneym That's the part, right there. Everyone laughs and he follows her bc now he knows they won't help her. I feel sick.— Sprig the Twig 🌿 (They/Them) (@Sprig the Twig 🌿 (They/Them)) 1560857362
@misslaneym https://t.co/hF3DTqC1BL— Beta Ray Derek (@Beta Ray Derek) 1560822787
Others asked: Would Walsh have done that had a man been seated next to him?
@misslaneym Would he do that with a guy on the couch? 🤷♂️ https://t.co/arVEWFWZKy— Shane Berketa (@Shane Berketa) 1560815849
And why didn't Cowell call out his colleague for his actions?
@misslaneym @chocolatebodied If I were the other guy sitting on the couch and noticed this, I would've stood up and… https://t.co/2FVpBNJEkC— The Hero (@The Hero) 1560824642
Years later he was asked about the incident by Rosenstock, and Walsh said: "We’d be sitting there all day on the couch doing TV, and I just grabbed her a*** as a joke.”
She was very funny and you could say anything or do anything to her and I loved her, so I would just grab her for a laugh but it’s not PC anymore.
That's...not a thing.
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