Mihai Bendeac, accused by the FILIA Center of harassing a young woman. The actor reacted indignantly: “You have a problem”
Mihai Bendeac had, after a screening of his film “City Boys” in Ploiești, a few days ago, an interaction with a fan that was publicly reported by Centru Filia as abuse. The organization campaigning for women's rights accused him of touching the young woman inappropriately and described the gesture as “disgusting”. The actor immediately reacted on social media and accused Filia of “sexualizing a funny event” and “subjecting a woman to public shaming”.
Mihai Bendeac posted himself, three days ago, the video of the moment for which he was criticized by the Filia Center. On Wednesday, he returned with the full video, which shows the interaction with the girl.
In the images, a young woman appears who, at the time of the meeting, tells the actor that she appreciates him very much and tells him to see how hard his heart beats: “Put your hand, please, to see how… (no his heart beats)”.
Bendeac touches the girl on the right side of the chest, then on the left. “Don't put… Here. Come on, brother,” are the lines of the young woman, who moves her hand to the heart area. The girl then also shows how her hands are shaking due to emotions.
FILIA: “Disgusting and revolting”
After the publication of the images, in a reaction published on social networks, the FILIA Center categorized the moment between the young woman and Mihai Bendeac as “disgusting and revolting”.
“Mihai Bendeac harassed a young woman right at the release of his film and then he himself published the images on the Internet. In the images, you can clearly see how the girl, moved by the meeting with him, asks him to see how her heart beats. Then he puts his hand on her right side, on her breasts, and then grabs her breasts a second time”, is the message sent by the feminist organization.
FILIA also claims that it is “inadmissible” for public figures to harass girls and women without being held accountable. The NGO also brings up the difference in age and status between the young woman and the actor, which can “influence the way a person perceives the impact of the bullying situation they went through”.
“You might have a problem”
About two hours after FILIA's post, Mihai Bendeac reacted to the accusations leveled at the organization's post itself. He announced that he would file a complaint with the police against the feminist organization, but also two other internet influencers.
“How do you allow yourself to sexualize an absolutely funny event and subject a woman to such public shaming? Is it a matter of your desire to get views? Because if you really saw something sexual in this interaction you might have a problem that needs treatment. And that's serious for some people who are supposed to protect women,” Bendeac accused.
He then related the interaction with the girl, from his point of view: “The lady initiated the gesture and laughed because I, being tired after whole days of taking photos with thousands of people, was looking for the heart in the collarbone area. Her private parts were not touched, and the whole matter created hilarity for both of us.”
Mihai Bendeac continued, claiming that the feminist organization put the young woman in a vulnerable position. “You are probably going through your filters and your fantasies. Going back to the beginning of this message, the serious part stems from the fact that you allowed yourself to sexualize and do that to a woman.”
Contacted by HotNews for a point of view after the actor's reaction, representatives of the FILIA Center said that before giving an answer, they need to determine whether they want to contribute to the popularization of the subject.
Mihai Bendeac: “I can't stand this kind of injustice”
Contacted by HotNews, Mihai Bendeac harshly criticizes the organization that defends women's rights and says that “without any remorse, they used a woman, publicly humiliating her.”
“I think it's very, very attention-seeking on their part. With absolutely no regard for that person, that woman, that they weren't looking for,” the actor said. He said his team is now trying to find the young woman in the footage.
Bendeac categorically denied that he touched the young woman inappropriately and claims that he posted the video because he thought it was funny, but also “cringe” – “If I had known that I had done something like this (not harassment), would I have started and posted it?”.
“I can't stand injustice like that. And especially coming from someone who, I repeat, is supposed to protect women, it's aberrant and I'm sick of this injustice,” added the actor.
