Woman who attacked a man who groped her at a music festival speaks out

A woman who was filmed attacking the man who groped her at a music festival has defended her actions, and the outfit she was wearing.

Madeline Anello-Kitzmiller, 20, wore a skirt with only glitter covering her chest when she was groped by a fellow reveller at the Rhythm & Vines festival in Gisbourne, New Zealand.

The American-born woman and her friend Kiri-Ann Hatfield followed the man, threw a drink in his face and proceeded to punch him.

Now Madeline has spoken out to defend her response, claiming that no one has a right to touch her body, regardless of what she chooses to wear.

“I stand by my actions and hope that I’ve inspired women to feel comfortable in their bodies, no matter how they look,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“He grabbed my breast. I hit him,” she added. “There was a lot of built-up anger coming from harassment throughout the day. This happens everywhere, not just New Zealand.”

“A human’s body is their own, and nobody has a right to touch you without your consent, regardless of what they’re wearing.”

Despite what happened, Madeline says the incident didn’t detract from her enjoyment of the event and she remained topless for the rest of the New Year’s festival.

Her boyfriend praised Madeline on Facebook, sharing a photo of the happy couple alongside the caption: “You are such an inspiration and the most bad-ass girl I’ve ever met, love you!”

Watch the video below:

In the video, which has since gone viral, the man follows Madeline and grabs her breast before running off and taking a seat on the grass.

However, Madeline and her friend, chases after him and strikes him several times in the face.

The footage was posted on Facebook by a woman named Giann Reece. She said: “Idk who you are glitter booby girl, but you and your sassy friend were the highlight of my RNV experience. Hope you and your party breasts made it home safe.” She included the hashtag: ‘#lookbutdonttouch’.

Madeline says it wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed harassment at the event, claiming she’d been abused by both male and female festival-goers the day before the incident, when she was wearing a t-shirt.

Sexual harassment at festivals has been making headlines of late. Last year, Bravalla, Sweden’s largest music event was cancelled following a string of sexual assault and rape complaints.

Organisers of the four-day camping event announced they were cancelling the 2018 event after police received four rape and 23 sexual assault reports at the festival in July.

This has prompted the organisation of the first ever women-only music festival.

The ‘man-free’ event, named Statement Festival, has been organised by Swedish comedian Emma Knyckare.

“Together we are making a statement against sexual assaults by creating a safe space for women, non-binary and trans people that want to attend festivals and feel secure at the same time,” the radio host tweeted. “We don’t think this is too much to ask for!”

And just this morning it has been announced that a couple from America have designed a pair of pants to help protect women during a sexual assault attack.

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