Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
The Voice of Holland is shut down due to sexual and power abuse allegations. The new season first aired on January 7
The Voice of Holland is shut down due to sexual and power abuse allegations. The new season first aired on January 7 - Credit: The Voice of Holland / RL - License: All Rights Reserved
Crime
sex crime
rape
sexual assault
sexual harassment
sexual misconduct
transgressive behavior
police
public prosecutor
The voice of Holland
Jeroen Rietbergen
Marco Borsato
Ali B.
Monday, 7 February 2022 - 13:50
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

The Voice: 5 sex crime charges; 20 misconduct reports

So far, the police have received five charges of sex crimes against persons involved in the TV program The Voice of Holland. The police also received 20 reports of possible inappropriate and sexually transgressive behavior about these people.

The police did not say which persons from The Voice were involved for privacy reasons. The case about the RTL 4 program came to light through an online broadcast of program BOOS last month, in which maker Tim Hofman spoke about sexually transgressive behavior behind the scenes of The Voice. Nineteen women spoke about misconduct by band leader Jeroen Rietbergen, fifteen about a director, and two women filed charges against coach Ali B. One of those charges is for rape, the prosecutor said in the episode. Former coach Marco Borsato was also accused of groping.

In recent weeks, dozens of victims of sexual abuse or unwanted sexual behavior reported to the police. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is assessing these reports but cannot yet say when this will be completed.

"In the coming period, victims can still come to us with their story," the police stressed. "We see that a broad social debate started about sexually transgressive behavior. And that it started a movement. The vice squads are receiving more calls than usual. It is not only victims around the Voice of Holland who find their voice. Most calls have nothing to do with that program. This involves, for example, reports of assault, rape, or sexual abuse that happened years ago."

The police are making a distinction between charges and reports. A report does not usually lead to a criminal investigation, but charges can result in an investigation led by the OM.

When the story about The Voice came out, Rietbergen resigned as the bandleader. Linda de Mol's now ex-partner acknowledged that he had relationships of a "sexual nature" with women involved in the program. Ali B. denies the allegations. He also resigned in the meantime. The director, against whom two women pressed charges, also denies the allegations.

RTL 4 decided to remove the program and announced an independent investigation with the producer.

Reporting by ANP

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Utrecht to experiment with letting sex workers work from home
  • Amsterdam to limit B&B's, cruises in fight against over-tourism
  • Emergency sirens to sound for sick children's party in Amsterdam; No cause for alarm
  • Rise in criminality at Den Haag train station blamed on “homeless EU migrants”
  • Renewable energy rose slightly to 15% in the Netherlands in 2022; Halfway towards target
  • Bargain store Action to ditch self-scan checkout after shoplifting increase

Top stories

  • Renewable energy rose slightly to 15% in the Netherlands in 2022; Halfway towards target
  • Jumbo stopping Max Verstappen sponsorship after this Formula 1 season
  • Wettest spring since 2006; Good for groundwater levels
  • Ajax coach John Heitinga out as team's manager after worst finish in 14 years
  • Defense attorney Inez Weski, who represented Ridouan Taghi, to be released from jail
  • Job growth expected to stall in the Netherlands next year

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content