Amidst #MeToo movement, journalist investigating sexual harassment at Coachella fest was 'repeatedly violated by strangers'

I went to Coachella for 10 hours to report this story, and I was groped 22 times. https://t.co/XNgZzXep3C

— Vera Papisova (@VeraPapisova) April 18, 2018

Papisova wrote, “This year’s Coachella experience was full of moments I never saw on Instagram — being repeatedly violated by strangers."

Papisova narrated her experience at the festival, “One guy followed me across the field to the Mojave stage, where I was meeting a friend to see FIDLAR. When my friend left to see another band, I stayed behind, and this guy came up behind me and whispered, ‘You’re a goddess’ and then rubbed his hands on my hips and butt.

can confirm: was groped at Coachella last year. turned around to scream at the dude but got carried away in the crowd. https://t.co/4qKywwQSgY

— Alex Bruce-Smith (@alexbrucesmith) April 18, 2018

“When I was waiting in line for a sweet potato taco on Sunday, a man poked me in the stomach and asked me if I do pilates. I said no, and then he asked, ‘What’s the secret behind that sixpack?’ and rubbed my bare stomach with his hand.”

She also explained how she was abused verbally too for denying the men. A man at the festival called her a “heinous bitch” as she refused giving a kiss, another man said she has “lot of attitude for a no-name model” after she declined to accompany him to a bathroom stall.

I watched a woman in the vip area of a stage get groped on her ass 5 times in 10 min. She was not intoxicated and did not vocalize objections. But how many times have women stayed quiet as to not cause a scene?

— AmyLou (@AtropaBdonna) April 18, 2018

She explained the festivals mood as, “A festival environment and set up feels like an invitation for men to behave this way, sometimes in groups. Do men see a woman’s presence at a music festival, particularly a dancing woman, as a substitute for consent?”

She said the young women she spoke to all told similar stories. “It’s just really uncomfortable to feel someone right behind you, touching you or rubbing you,” 20-year-old Phoebe told her.

A 16-year-old, Reagan explained what she felt at the festival, “Just the way people touch me when you’re walking through a crowd,” she said. “Why are you touching me there? We’re trying to have fun and fit in here.”

I'm really sorry this happened to you. I worked Warped Tour for 2 months last summer and heard the same stories. Same stories at all kinds of music festivals.
They need a real sexual violence prevention policy for sure.
Thanks for your reporting.

— Kira-Lynn Ferderber (@Cupcakes_n_Rap) April 18, 2018

A 23-year-old Logan said, “If you’re in tight quarters, and you’re getting closer to the stage, guys will always come up and start grinding with you to see if you’re into that sort of thing,” she said.

“Music festivals are meant to be spaces for people to relax, make new friends, and enjoy music, but the harsh reality is that many people attend with the expectation that they will not be safe in these environments,” Papisova wrote.

i have such fond memories of music festivals and they've been a huge part of my career.

reading this brought back a lot of suppressed moments from fests all over the country

at my first coachella a man in his 40s grabbed both of my breasts and ran away https://t.co/d61JnBNeS6

— frankie greek (@frankiegreek) April 19, 2018

On Twitter, she shared a number of the abusive messages she has received since publishing the story. “Would rape your ass str8 on festival ... bend over f**king femism [sic] s**t, btw ur a 2/10 not more,” one message said.

“This is what it’s like to be a woman on the internet,” Papisova tweeted. “We are conditioned to punish and silence women for being vocal about abusive behaviour. This is why women don’t report.”

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