Viewers have been left disgusted after a man grabbed a female reporter live on TV. Now, he has been arrested.
Keep scrolling to watch the horrific incident for yourself...
Instances of people harassing journalists out in the field have been all too common.
via: Getty Images
From being slapped from behind to fully grabbed - these shocking incidents appear to be happening more often, despite conversations surrounding consent being louder than ever.But what makes these people think they have a free pass to just grab someone?
It truly makes no sense. Take reporter Alex Bozarjian, for instance, who had her backside slapped by a man in a Savannah, Georgia, running race as she covered the competition back in December. “No woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better," Bozarjian tweeted afterward. You can watch the shocking incident at the end of this story.And it seems like once again, another incident has occurred just last weekend.Â
@gaynor_hall nnoooooo excuse for what you experience, please press assault charges and have him prosecuted, it's ti… https://t.co/TGqFxf6G6o— LyricallyGiftedBro (@LyricallyGiftedBro)1590540413.0
And when the clip was posted to social media...
via: Getty Images
Well, it wasn't long before a Twitter firestorm ensued.WGN-TV reporter Gaynor Hall was live on-air giving a report from Shorewood, Illinois when the incident occurred.
via: Facebook
She was broadcasting for the 10:00 pm newscast on Saturday night. Keep scrolling to see the clip for yourself.Hall was reporting on the damage the area had endured from a recent windstorm.
via: Twitter
However, just before she cut away to a video package, a man appears in the frame.The man then grabs her around the arms...
via: Twitter
And starts shouting to the camera. He can be heard saying: "f*** her right in the p****."Hall is visibly scared.
via: Twitter
Judging by her face, the reporter looks both shocked and terrified by the incident.WGN quickly went to cut the shot.
via: Twitter
And later apologized to viewers for the language while assuring viewers that Hall was “fine."Not only was his act a complete violation...
via: Twitter
But he was not wearing a face covering, potentially exposing Hall to possible infection amid the pandemic.After the incident, Hall took to Facebook to share an important message.
via: Twitter
"A brief note to the young man who jumped in my liveshot tonight: It was not funny. You violated my personal space. You grabbed me. You scared me. Was it worth it?" she wrote.WGN-TV anchor Tonya Francisco also took to Twitter following the incident.
via: Twitter
She urged people to help identify the man in question. "Do you know this guy? He attacked my colleague @gaynor_hall during her liveshot last night in Shorewood. She is physically ok, but this is UNACCEPTABLE!!! He needs to be turned it."For the record...
What happened @gaynor_hall is deplorable. And shows a problem with live reporting during a pandemic (and often, any… https://t.co/jlztqp1WtS— Dave Ross (@Dave Ross)1590291694.0
The clip of the incident quickly went viral on Twitter.
via: Facebook
And viewers across the globe expressed their outrage at the incident.Many said the man was looking for a few seconds of fame.
WGN-TV’s Gaynor Hall was essentially assaulted during a live report on the 10:00 news tonight. My hope is that Shor… https://t.co/j8arBd4ytu— Dave Miller (@Dave Miller)1590291165.0
People were furious at what they had watched.
@itsashleycakes This is so fucking gross— Jenn Richter (@Jenn Richter)1590292429.0
Shortly after outraged viewer's demanded the man be found...
@gaynor_hall We were watching live and were freaked. I’m glad you’re ok and they caught the ahole.— Dave Elliot (@Dave Elliot)1590361053.0
The man was later identified as twenty-year-old Eric Farina from Minooka, Illinois.
UPDATE!! An arrest has been made in the attack on @gaynor_hall last night during her liveshot. She is physically fi… https://t.co/bjBMisrLxc— Tonya Francisco (@Tonya Francisco)1590345718.0
According to the police statement, Farina made a "full confession."
Police charge Eric Farina, 20, of Minooka with battery and disorderly conduct for grabbing WGN reporter and yelling… https://t.co/xykSVdtUlA— Eric Horng (@Eric Horng)1590372890.0
Hall took to Facebook once again to thank viewers for their help and support.
"Thanks to your help, he was identified and arrested. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support. I am ok and I appreciate you more than you know," she wrote.Police in the area have been praised for their fast response.
@Miller_Dave He’s been arrested! We have a fantastic police department in Shorewood!— Chitown Buckeye (@Chitown Buckeye)1590351776.0
You can watch the full clip of the incident below:
In case you missed WGN news... https://t.co/NslG8kRKHo— Ashley Rose (@Ashley Rose)1590289676.0