"Star of 'Let's Dance,' Bendixen Alleged of Sexual Misconduct"
ann-kathrin bendixen, the popular travel vlogger and semi-finalist of the german dance competition "Let's Dance", has spoken out about the sexual harassment she experienced while traveling solo on her motorcycle trips.
In a recent podcast episode, Bendixen shared a harrowing encounter with two men during the early days of her "Monkey on a Bike" blog. According to her, while reaching out to strangers for accommodation, she climbed into a camper with two men in Canada. Despite feeling an urge to not do so, she did. One of the men suddenly began to inappropriately touch her. Bendixen, shocked and angry, managed to kick him and fight him off. The other man then warned them to let her go before the situation escalated further. They offered her money, "as if I was a prostitute," recalled Bendixen.
Since the incident, Bendixen has taken safety precautions when traveling alone. Alongside bear spray for animal protection in Canada and Alaska, she now carries a knife as well.
Bendixen, who co-hosts the podcast "Chat on the Road" with fellow "Let's Dance" contestant Gabriel Kelly, has also faced sexual harassment on social media. She frequently receives inappropriate messages from followers, with comments like "You can't even shake someone's hand without it being sexual harassment" or "How can you complain about someone touching your ass a little...".
By openly discussing her experiences, Bendixen hopes to encourage others who have faced similar situations to speak up as well. "Every woman has at least one such story and no one really talks about it," she says.
In the spirit of promoting safety for solo female travelers, it's crucial to research destinations, stay connected with friends and family back home, be aware of local customs and laws, consider self-defense classes, and invest in safety gear like GPS trackers and emergency alarms.
Source: ntv.de, csp
I'm not going to be able to avoid discussing the unwanted attention I receive on social media, particularly from certain followers who make inappropriate comments about my travel experiences. This online harassment, designed to question my credibility and downplay the reality of sexual harassment, is unfortunately a common issue faced by celebrities in the entertainment industry, even travel vloggers like myself.
