More often than not, live news bloopers are all in good fun. Sure, they might make the life of a reporter somewhat annoying, but so comes with the territory when you’re out on the field with a camera, interacting with people from all walks of life (and all levels of sobriety). When you factor in physical contact however, that’s when things typically cross the line.
Such was the case when CBC reporter Chris Glover was covering a story from a Toronto comedy club about the takeover of a satellite radio station that will no longer feature solely Canadian comics, putting some livelihoods at risk. While reporting live, a few men lingered in the background including a man later identified as actor and comedian Boyd Banks, who began nuzzling Glover’s neck and ear. Over the course of 30 seconds, the behavior escalated to kissing and licking, as you can see in the above video.
For his part, Glover maintained upmost professional composure, despite later admitting that the encounter made him feel “deeply uncomfortable.” “Things are getting a little awkward out here, so I’m going to pass it back to you,” he told anchor Dwight Drummond back in the studio as he signed off.
Banks later apologized in a phone call to the CBC radio show As It Happens on Wednesday evening, admitting that there was no excuse for his behavior and that he is guilty of everything he’s been accused of.
“I am an idiot, and there’s something wrong with me. I’m not making excuses. I want to apologize to the stand-up community in Canada and, of course, the reporter who was doing his job.”
The Canadian Association of Stand-up Comedians, which held the event Glover was covering, issued a statement apologizing to Glover and calling Banks’s actions “despicable.”
Likewise, many others — particularly in the broadcasting business — sounded off on Twitter to express their outrage at the act tantamount to assault on some poor guy just trying to do his job.
https://twitter.com/jeffrey_vallis/status/1100563708978184192
This is not funny and unacceptable. Chris was beyond professional. I would not have been. https://t.co/fIAQivMjMp
— Rosemary Barton (@RosieBarton) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/andraydomise/status/1100602981412626434
Ewww. And also, ewww. https://t.co/bYsKlm98qE
— Troy Diggs (@amnewsboy) February 28, 2019
This is beyond gross and disturbing. It’s assault. @chrisgloverCBC you are a true professional for handling that so calmly.
— Farrah Merali (@FarrahMerali) February 27, 2019
This is outrageous, and it's assault. Respect to @chrisgloverCBC for keeping his cool – I would not have been so patient. https://t.co/wU6Jw8JmKi
— Matt Galloway (@mattgallowaycbc) February 27, 2019
It’s brutal that no one else in the room stepped in and pulled that creep away. That’s a creepy form of sexual bullying, and someone should have stood up for Chris in a vulnerable position. Big props to Chris for being professional and trying to diffuse the situation. Tough one
— Brady Strachan (@BradyStrachan) February 27, 2019
This is disgusting. Sorry you had to go through this, Chris. I also can’t believe none of the bystanders did anything. Surely someone there could tell what was happening, no?
— Lorenda Reddekopp (@CBCLorenda) February 27, 2019
Harassment and assault happens to reporters out in the field daily. None of this is acceptable and the ones who do it should be outed as the harassers they are https://t.co/9FCOFkKoCk
— Adrian Cheung (@adrianwkcheung) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/vanalogueYVR/status/1100576979797954560
All I can say is this reporter has A TON of patience cause an elbow to the face would've happened seconds into this mess! 👊 https://t.co/2QnIAZc1Jm
— Kristen Crowley TV (@Kristencrowley3) February 28, 2019
Glover says he now intends to file a police report over the incident.
(Via CBC News)