Alleged Sexual Assault Accusation Surfaces Against "Let's Dance" Actor Bendixen
Travel Bloggers and "Let's Dance" Star Reveal Experiences with Sexual Harassment
Ann-Kathrin Bendixen, famously known as "Monkey on a Bike," competed in "Let's Dance" last year and reached the semi-finals. Her solo motorcycle trips, documented on Instagram and YouTube, have garnered a following. Now, she is speaking out about the sexual harassment she has faced while traveling alone.
Bendixen partnered with fellow "Let's Dance" contestant Gabriel Kelly on the RTL podcast, "Chat on the Road." Together, they discuss the dangers and challenges encountered on their motorcycle journeys. Bendixen openly talks about the sexual harassment she experienced at the beginning of her "Monkey on a Bike" trips.
One such encounter occurred when she got into a camper with two men, despite her intuition telling her not to. One of the men suddenly touched her inappropriately while naked. Bendixen recalls fighting back and being threatened before being released by the men, who later tried to bribe her as if she were a prostitute.
Since then, Bendixen has taken safety measures, including carrying a knife in addition to bear spray for animal encounters in Canada and Alaska.
Bendixen also encounters sexual harassment on social media, receiving inappropriate messages. Some men question her right to complain about harassment or minimize it as harmless. Due to these experiences, Bendixen aims to encourage other victims to speak up and raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual harassment, believing that every woman has experienced such an incident.
In her efforts to destigmatize conversations about harassment and foster a supportive community, Bendixen's experiences reflect a combination of empowerment and caution, encouraging women to travel with confidence but also with safety in mind.
I'm not going to be able to ignore the pervasive issue of sexual harassment I've faced, especially during my travels as 'Monkey on a Bike'. The incidents I've encountered extend beyond the physical world and invade the realms of science, health-and-wellness, and even social media. Unfortunately, my experiences on entertainment platforms like YouTube and Instagram have not shielded me from unsolicited and inappropriate messages. I strongly believe that every woman, whether a health enthusiast, a news aficionado following general-news or crime-and-justice, is likely to have encountered some form of sexual harassment. My mission is to destigmatize conversations about harassment, foster a supportive community, and empower women to travel with confidence, while also prioritizing their safety.
