Andy DehnartPolice are investigating after a contestant on Brazil’s version of Big Brother was expelled from the house for possibly sexually assaulting a houseguest while she was unconscious, although he has called it “a huge misunderstanding.”
Footage of the incident that’s on YouTube and was broadcast on live, pay-per-view TV, shows houseguest Monique Amin unconscious in bed. Under a blanket, fellow houseguest Daniel Echaniz touches and moves against her.
The show’s host told viewers only that Daniel “is suspected of having infringed the rules of the programme.” He said that producers “examined his behaviour without jumping to conclusions and with the utmost care. The images showed a breach of the rules of the programme. After careful evaluation, the direction of the programme found that the behavior of the contestant on the night of the party was seriously inadequate.”
The Daily Mail reports that “police officers arrived at the house and interviewed Ms Amin for three hours, before taking her away for a rape examination.” F5 reports that fellow houseguests weren’t discussing the eviction or the incident, perhaps because they were instructed not to.
Daniel has defended himself on Twitter. A translated version of one tweet says “this is just a huge misunderstanding,” while another says, “I am against any violence or abuse. Anyone who knows me, knows my character.”
Update: The AP reports that “Rio de Janeiro police spokeswoman Camila Donato says participants were to be questioned as part of the probe on Tuesday.”