The moment when a sports reporter smacked a soccer fan was caught on video late last month, and the reporter is now explaining her side of the story.
Maria Fernanda Mora was doing a live segment outside a sports arena in Guadalajara when a group of fans gathered behind her and began chanting.
After tolerating the group for a few seconds, Mora then turned around in a rage and hit one of the fans twice with her microphone after he allegedly pinched her from behind. As the video cuts out, Mora is still visibly upset.
Mora took to Twitter after the incident to defend her actions, which took place on April 27.
“What happened to me at dawn on Thursday, happens to thousands of women every day in public spaces,” she tweeted.
“The difference is that it happened to me during a live link on television and I decided to defend myself.”
“My reaction is what turned the fact into something viral,” she continued.
“I thought, It could be an accidental rubbing because of people’s pushing and I kept talking to the camera.”
“This guy, emboldened because I did not react and kept doing my job, put his hand between my buttocks twice more. I decided to defend myself.”
I don't speak Spanish, so I can't really read all these tweets, but what @marifermora90 experienced transcends any language barrier. Her actions were what a lot of us would like to do and I love her for it. Vamos Maria. #UnaSomosTodas
— Sybil (@SybilD) May 4, 2018
Using the hashtag #UnaSomosTodas, which means “one like us all,” several well-known reporters from Mexico came out in defense of Mora.
[New York Post] Featured image via screen grab
