A contestant on the reality show “Big Brother” has been sentenced to 15 months in prison in Spain for sexually abusing a contestant. The competent court in Madrid also decided that the convict cannot approach the victim for four years and cannot contact the woman for that long, as announced by the Spanish judiciary on Monday. In addition, the defendant must pay the victim compensation of 6,000 euros.
The public prosecutor had asked for two and a half years in prison. In Spain, prison sentences of less than two years are often suspended by judges if the accused has no criminal record. A decision on this is still pending.
The act caused a stir in Spain and occupied the country for years. It took place in November 2017 on a bed in the studio of a Zeppelin TV production company that had been turned into a home on camera – even though the snippet never aired. The production company then showed the woman the recordings, after which she pressed charges. The two involved were 24 at the time.
Last year, the Spanish parliament significantly toughened sex crimes. Thus, any sexual act without express consent is considered rape.
08/26/2022 | 00:27 minutes
The victim said he was drunk. The defendant assured several times that they were “consensual actions”. But the judge in charge saw it as proven that the victim had been abused “like a sex toy, like an object of gratification” without “there being the slightest appearance of consent” on the part of the woman.
“Big Brother” is a TV format created in the Netherlands that has enjoyed international success and has been broadcast with minor variations in dozens of countries, including Germany. After more than 20 years, the television program is still being partially produced – for example in Brazil, where the 23rd edition is underway.