Former Dutch talent show producer apologizes amid scandal

THE HAGUE – The previous producer of Dutch talent demonstrate “The Voice of Holland” apologized Thursday after allegations of sexually inappropriate perform joined to the rankings blockbuster were being aired. Police and prosecutors named reviews of the alleged abuse “disturbing” and urged victims to occur forward with their activities.

The online investigative clearly show “BOOS” — the Dutch word for “angry” — noted that it had acquired multiple statements ranging from an allegation of rape to sexually-tinted WhatsApp messages by two panelists on “The Voice of Holland” and its pianist and band leader.

Dutch media mogul John de Mol responded to the allegations in an job interview in the course of the “BOOS” exhibit Thursday. He said that in many years as “The Voice of Holland’s” producer he experienced gained only 1 criticism — towards the show’s pianist and band leader Jeroen Rietbergen, in 2019. He stated he angrily confronted Rietbergen and warned him to halt inappropriate conduct, but did not launch an investigation.

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Rietbergen was the husband or wife of De Mol’s sister, the Dutch television star Linda de Mol, right until she broke their marriage final weekend after he apologized for his habits.

Questioned by “BOOS” presenter Tim Hofman if he would say sorry, De Mol replied: “Yes, of class. Completely.”

Forward of the “BOOS” broadcast, police and prosecutors issued a statement expressing they have followed the reporting about allegations of “all varieties of inappropriate habits, which could incorporate felony offences. These are disturbing messages.”

“We would like to contact on persons who think they have been the target of a felony offense to report to the police and if essential also file a report,” mentioned the statement, which also appealed for potential witnesses.

Even just before the explosive episode of “BOOS” went dwell on YouTube, it had shaken the Dutch enjoyment planet.

“The Voice of Holland” in which panelist “coaches” mentor aspiring singers, has been a rankings hit for yrs in the Netherlands and spawned local versions in dozens of other nations all around the earth. The allegations elevated in the Netherlands relate only to the Dutch present.

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Dutch broadcaster RTL Nederland took “The Voice of Holland” off the air after becoming contacted by “BOOS” for comment. The show’s present producer, ITV Studios, launched an investigation.

Rietbergen stop and apologized for his perform and two women of all ages produced formal problems to law enforcement authorities about inappropriate conduct versus a person of the show’s panelists and talent coaches, Dutch rapper Ali Bouali.

Bouali, recognized by his stage name Ali B, denies wrongdoing, his attorney informed The Associated Press on Wednesday. “BOOS” interviewed a girl, whose identity was not released, right before and immediately after she documented an alleged rape by Ali B to authorities.

Dutch media reported extensively in December that a grievance of inappropriate habits was filed in opposition to yet another previous panelist and mentor, the well-liked singer Marco Borsato. He also denies wrongdoing.

A law firm symbolizing a previous contestant also verified Thursday that he and his customer are getting ready to make a complaint to police. He did not expose specifics of the allegations.

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Police and prosecutors issued a assertion Thursday urging men and women “who believe they may well be a victim of a crime” and opportunity witnesses to report it to police.

The show’s producer ITV Studios has presently released an investigation and reported in a statement that its “optimum priority is to deliver a secure and supportive ecosystem for anyone who participates in — or operates on — our reveals, and ITV Studios has a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior it is explained to have taken spot.”

A different panelist, singer Anouk, also quit. She stated in an Instagram video when the story broke past weekend that she did not want to get the job done “in a spot where by for a long time a range of adult males have abused their position and deliberately chose to retain it silent and appear the other way.”