ATV Broadcasted Sexual Assault on Television: Woman Sues Broadcaster
The private broadcaster ATV is facing a lawsuit for injunction and damages. A young woman makes serious allegations: In June 2022, she was groped on the breast by a drunken man in the Italian holiday resort of Lignano – in front of a running camera and accompanied by an ATV camera team. According to the plaintiff, the incident was broadcast unblurred in the reality show "Tutto Gas! – Ausnahmezustand in Lignano" and portrayed as entertaining. ATV emphasized in response to an APA inquiry that the woman was "made unrecognizable with a production-related exception."
Assault Broadcast Without Consent According to Plaintiff
The lawsuit available to the APA states that the woman was surprised by the assault, did not know how to react, and was additionally intimidated by the camera and spotlight. The ATV camera team did not intervene, and the assault was later broadcast without her consent. Particularly explosive: According to the plaintiff, the scene was portrayed as a humorous element. It was only weeks later that she learned of the recording through the broadcast on television.
The alleged perpetrator has now been identified, but the criminal offense has expired. However, a civil lawsuit is still possible – the deadline here is three years. The amount in dispute is 35,000 euros, of which 25,000 euros are for the injunction request, and 10,000 euros for damages.
ATV Refers to Anonymization – and Responds to Criticism
ATV confirmed the lawsuit to the APA and stated that the woman was made unrecognizable in all available versions – except for one exception. Furthermore, she had "not objected to the publication for almost three years."
The case is part of a series of criticisms of the channel. Recently, ATV came under public pressure due to the format "Das Geschäft mit der Liebe." The editor-in-chief of Falter, Florian Klenk, criticized individual scenes as "misogynistic trash" and "trivialization of rape culture." As a result, the remaining episodes of the 11th season were canceled and taken offline. ATV announced plans to revise internal guidelines. ATV Managing Director Thomas Gruber emphasized: "Entertainment must not promote inhumane and misogynistic behavior."
(APA/Red)
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