Speaking up about sexual harassment is never easy for the victims, but actress Rhian Ramos shared her horrible experience in a lengthy Instagram post to send the message that things like this “happen everywhere, all the time.”
“Two nights ago, a friend invited me out, and because I had been turning everyone down for the past four months (as I had been working on a show) I decided to go,” Rhian wrote.
“On the same night, some guy was out, partying a little too hard and goes up to me and squeezes my rear.”
The 26-year-old actress said that she used to think of herself as strong enough to fight back in case this happens, but the situation left her stunned. She just cried (and we totally understand why!)
When one of Rhian’s friends talked to the offender, he initially denied. Good thing another friend stepped in and made the offender kneel down and apologize to Rhian.
Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story. The offender just couldn’t keep his hands to himself.
“Upon leaving, the same man squeezed me again and ran out. I was in tears,” Rhian shared.
Rhian tried to catch him but it was too late. The security guard told her that the man took his car and left.
The actress emphasized that she was in slacks and a loose top and she never made eye contact with the offender.
“What did I do to deserve this?” Rhian asked.
After a bit of investigating, Rhian found out about the offender’s identity. She also discovered that he has daughters, which is why she is keeping his identity anonymous. Rhian said she will send him a private message instead.
Rhian said that she shared her experience “to remind women to not question themselves” and “to remind guys to defend the honor of girls they invite out.”
Earlier this year, Quezon City passed an ordinance criminalizing street-level sexual harassment. Rhian said that she hoped that a similar law will be enacted across the country.
Here is her post, which has earned more than 5,000 likes on Instagram.
