A runner is now banned from future races after he smacked a reporter’s bottom on live TV.
The reporter at a news station in Georgia spoke out after the runner slapped her butt while she was reporting about a race.
Alex Bozarjian, a reporter at WSAV, was covering a race and runners at the annual Savannah Bridge Run passed by her when a man suddenly came up behind her and smacked her bum before running away.
Bozarjian’s face fell and it was evident that she was feeling shaken before she managed to get back to her report.
The video of the incident went viral, so Bozarjian spoke out and wrote on Twitter: “To the man who smacked my butt on live TV this morning: You violated, objectified, and embarrassed me. No woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better.”
Fellow reporters and many people showed their support for Bozarjian. WLOS reporter Caitlyn Penter posted: “DO NOT TOUCH REPORTERS. Period.”
The Savannah Sports Council director, Robert Wells, told Bozarjian that what happened was “100% unacceptable.” It later said that it had identified the runner and “banned him from future races.”
“We will not tolerate behavior like this at a Savannah Sports Council event. We have made the decision to ban this individual from registering for all Savannah Sports Council owned races,” the council also wrote on Twitter.
The runner in the video was identified as Tommy Callaway. It was also confirmed that a police report had been filed against him.
Callaway’s lawyer, Joseph Turner, said in a statement to WTOC that the runner is a “loving husband and father who is very active in his community.” He also said that Callaway is “working with those involved to correct the situation.”
Turner added: “While we regret the situation, Mr. Callaway did not act with any criminal intentions.”
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Replaced!