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'Alcohol-fuelled' Lions fans directed lewd comments at teen dancers says artistic director
By Ian Cameron
The co-ordinator of a troupe of teenage dancers that performed in Auckland before the first test between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions says her girls were subject to a ‘barrage’ of lewd remarks from drunken Lions fans.
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Writing for Spinoff.co.nz artistic director of High Jinx’s Carlene Newall de Jesus claims drunken Lions fans directed sexually suggestive comments at dancers as young as thirteen who were performing in the Kingsland streets area of Auckland before the first Test on the evening of June 24th.
According to her piece on the website over the course of the “90-minute performance the girls have been subjected to a barrage of crude, sexualised and objectifying comments from male spectators.”
While it was a area with fans from both sides, Ms Newall de Jesus states that the vast bulk of lewd comments were being made by Lions fans.
“Ninety percent of the harassment came from men wearing the recognisable red and white Lions supporter gear. They travelled in packs with their alcohol-fuelled bravado worn as loud and proud as their face paint and waving flags.
“The unmistakable sound of drunk raucousness played in the background throughout the girls’ performance.”
Ms Newall de Jesus says that the girls in her charge were left shaken after the performance.
The troupe’s performance before the series decider has now being called off by Kingsland Business Association as a result of the incident. Spinoff.co.nz have invited ‘any rugby or Lions’ fan organisation who wish to respond to the story to email info@thespinoff.co.nz’
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You can read the article in full here.
