‘I haven’t invited that’: BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty left ‘fuming’ after being ‘intimidated’ by a man while walking alone
Naga Munchetty has told how she was ‘left ‘fuming’ as she opened up about her terrifying experience in which she was ‘intimidated’ by a man while walking alone.
The BBC breakfast host, 47, has recently sparked conversation about women’s safety after joining the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in a bid to raise awareness of the issue.
As part of the project, Naga headed on a night out with a group of female students from Leeds, with the broadcaster going on to discuss her experience on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Fears: Naga Munchetty has told how she was ‘left ‘fuming’ as she opened up about her terrifying experience in which she was ‘intimidated’ by a man while walking alone
The ladies involved detailed being catcalled and inappropriately touched by men, with Naga detailing how it’s an ongoing problem for women while also recalling her own moment of being intimated.
She detailed to the Daily Star: ‘I had men who were calling in and saying, “I imagined when I was younger I said some awful things and had been a bit off if a girl didn’t welcome my advances”. It’s about teaching people who are rejected to not take offence and for it to not be an issue.’
Detailing her own experience, she added: ‘I have had it where I’ve walked along the street and a guy has said, ‘Hi, you’re looking great’ and I just look at them and think inside, I’m fuming. I haven’t invited that. You’re intimidating me.
Important: The BBC breakfast host, 47, has recently sparked conversation about women’s safety after joining the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in a bid to raise awareness of the issue
‘Then you respond and you say, “Thanks” and you carry on walking or you look down and walk on and then they turn around and go, “Hey, I’m talking to you. What’s your name?” I don’t want to give you my name. And then you say, “I’m really busy, nice to meet you” and you move on. But then you’re like “Oh what, you’re too good to talk to me?”.
Naga – who recently responded to a listener who wasn’t a fan – told how this was ‘one very specific example’ but it was a scenario that happens.
Further detailing her fears of being alone while out on the street, she continued on her radio show: ‘I’m 5ft4, I do walk with keys in my hand, I’m quite small-framed. If I’m walking alone I do look around every 30 seconds, and I constantly survey what’s going on in front, to the side, and behind me.’
Safety: As part of the project, Naga headed on a night out with a group of female students from Leeds, with the broadcaster going on to discuss her experience on BBC Radio 5 Live
On if a man ended up somehow walking behind her, even if incidentally, she said: ‘The thing that would help me, if I heard something, even if it was just a clearing of the throat, or music or a phone conversation, I would acknowledge you.
‘And I can only talk about how I feel, and I would feel safer, if the man who was walking behind me crossed the road and sped up so he was walking in front of me.
‘Because then I wouldn’t have to worry about what you were doing behind me and if you were going to run up behind me or run up and hit me or take something from me or push me.’
She added: ‘That’s the reality.’
Experience: ‘I just look at them and think inside, I’m fuming. I haven’t invited that. You’re intimidating me’
It comes after Naga responded to a Radio 5 Live listener who said they’re ‘not a fan’ of her.
The journalist took to Twitter to share the ‘amazing response’ she received from listeners over a recent broadcast about gender-based violence.
However, one person shared that they were not impressed with the star, prompting Naga to share a very dignified response.
The journalist headed on a night out with a group of students from Leeds as part of the BBC’s BBC’s safety campaign, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
Having her say: It comes after Naga responded to a Radio 5 Live listener who said they’re ‘not a fan’ of her
And on Wednesday she shared her joy at the response the broadcast had, writing on Twitter: ‘We had an amazing response from listeners today – Thank you all for engaging with us @bbc5live Listen back on @BBCSounds 11am – 1om x’ [sic]
However, one person responded by saying they’re not a ‘fan’ of the BBC Breakfast host, before going on to praise her broadcast about women’s safety.
They wrote: ‘So sorry Naga, I’m not a fan of you, but I heard most of your interviews with Leeds young women today.
Work: The journalist took to Twitter to share the ‘amazing response’ she received from listeners over a recent broadcast about gender-based violence
‘They worry, rightly about drink spiking, general male harassment, feeling anxious – on a night out! Don’t want to wear a dress, in case it sends the wrong message. What! Xx.’
Naga then replied to the: ‘Fan or not, am glad you listened to what they were saying, even if you don’t empathise with all their experiences.’
While one listener wasn’t her biggest supporter, plenty of Twitter users were quick to heap praise on Naga’s latest work.
Pleased: On Wednesday she shared her joy at the response the broadcast had, writing on Twitter: ‘We had an amazing response from listeners today – Thank you all for engaging with us’
Oh dear: However, one person responded by saying they’re not a ‘fan’ of the BBC Breakfast host, before going on to praise her broadcast about women’s safety
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