Ghent police have launched an investigation following an Instagram video shared by influencer Jonatan Medart, in which he and his boyfriend are harassed by a group of men. Medart himself may face punishment for identifying the men in the video.
Home News
Police investigate after influencer posts video of harassment in Ghent
Published:
“What should have been such a lovely evening ended on a sour note for us,” Medart wrote on Instagram on Thursday. He shows how he was the victim of “gay-bashing by a group of jerks” who followed him and his boyfriend through Ghent city centre, shouting abuse at them.
“Seppe and I were just walking down the street, not even holding hands, and then this happened,” Medart says. “I felt so trapped and so uncomfortable. I’d never experienced anything so intense in real life before.”
Medart did not report the incident to police but filmed it and posted the video, in which the men are clearly recognisable, online. VRT NWS has blurred their faces in the video montage above.
“I’m not afraid,” Medart says in the video. “I reckon within two days you won’t be enjoying walking down the street quite so much.” He says the men tried to begin a conversation afterwards, but by that point he was not open to talking to them.
Medart declined to comment further to VRT NWS. His management says he prefers to let the video speak for itself and that he feels encouraged by the reactions to it.
Ghent police have launched an investigation and Medart announced on Friday that he was taking the video offline. “Keep the discussion going, because we’re still a long way off,” he said on Instagram.
If you’re the victim of a particular incident, you want to do something about it. But this is not the right way to go about it
Publishing a video that identifies the men is “legally problematic”, according to lawyer Joris Van Cauter. “I understand that, if you’re the victim of a particular incident, you want to do something about it. But this is obviously not the right way to go about it,” he told De Afspraak.
“It’s good to record it. Then you have evidence. But he didn’t blur any faces, so everyone is recognisable. He said: ‘I’m going to take my revenge now. I’ll pillory you.’ That’s playing judge and executioner.”
According to Van Cauter, there is a chance that Medart himself could face punishment. In 2023, influencer Acid posted a video on YouTube in which he named members of the Reuzegom student society. It followed the case of KU Leuven student Sanda Dia, who died in 2018 during a hazing ritual organised by the society.
Acid believed the punishment given to the perpetrators was too lenient. He was sentenced to a three-month suspended prison term and a fine of €800.
For support on issues related to homophobia, contact Unia on the freephone number 0800 12 800 or RainbowHouse on 02 503 59 90. If you have experienced violence, you can file a complaint with the police.