Victim of misconduct The Voice: ‘At that moment he started to feel’

Two former participants of The Voice of Holland have in RTL talk show Beau told their story about the sexually transgressive behavior that took place behind the scenes at the talent show. Following allegations of this, band leader Jeroen Rietbergen resigned on Saturday. He also offered apologize profusely for his behavior.

One of the former participants, Nienke Wijnhoven, says that she was groped by Rietbergen. It is said to have happened after the band leader suggested to her to check out music studios. She agreed “and at that moment he started to feel”.

Wijnhoven has waited so long to come out, she says, because she was afraid that she herself was also to blame for what had happened. She also feels shame.

‘Horny pants on’

She also told Beau about a singing lesson where she had to lie on the floor for a practice. According to her, Rietbergen then said something along the lines of: “I would like to lie on it.”

In addition to Wijnhoven, who participated in the 2017-2018 season, Kirsten Berkx was also at the table Beau, who was a participant of the program a season earlier. She described an incident in which she walked down the hall after a singing lesson. Rietbergen was nearby and then said, according to her: “What horny pants are you wearing.”

She says she was shocked by the comment and that she thought it was mostly inappropriate. “As a man you have no right to say such a thing to a girl. You have a working relationship at that time.” Both ex-candidates were visibly emotional when they told their story on the talk show.

Conflicting feelings

Earlier in the evening it went to talk show HLF8 also about the scandal The Voice. Presenter Johnny de Mol, son of The Voice-creator John de Mol, said he is “not objective enough” about the situation. He is “overrun with conflicting feelings”. He called Rietbergen an “unbelievable bastard”, but also says that he still loves him and that he has had app contact with his “blonde uncle”.

Johnny de Mol thinks his father was aware of the abuses at The Voice: “The executives knew about it, we were able to read that. So I assume he did too.”

Johnny’s aunt Linda is, according to him, “quite through it now”. Today she announced that she would stop all her activities for the time being. She also has her relationship with Rietbergen broken. The presenter says he does not know that Rietbergen’s behavior was the reason Linda de Mol and her husband had split up years ago. “They’ve kept that very under wraps.”

The Voice gestopt

On Saturday, RTL announced that The Voice will no longer be broadcast for the time being due to allegations of sexual misconduct against multiple creators. Those allegations came to light through investigations by BOOS, a BNNVARA program on YouTube. Today it was announced that The Voice Kids in The Voice Senior are not on TV for the time being.

Band leader Rietbergen confessed in an extensive statement to have had “contact of a sexual nature” with women who were involved in the program. Coach Ali B has also been accused of sexually transgressive behaviour. A complaint has been filed against him. He denies the allegations.

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