Comedian and podcaster Deborah Frances-White has described an alleged assault by a high-profile man at a showbiz Christmas party, speaking during a BBC Question Time debate on protecting women and girls.
Appearing on the panel in Exeter, Frances-White, creator and host of the comedy podcast The Guilty Feminist, recounted the encounter without naming the individual or giving details of the party. She said the man walked past her, put his face into her cleavage and moved his head back and forth in what some call "motorboating", before continuing without introducing himself.
Details of the encounter
Frances-White said: "A high profile man, a famous man, who runs in the same circles as those who have been in the news in the last couple of weeks did a turn around the room walked past me, put his face into my cleavage and moved his head back and forth, in the manor that some men call 'motorboating', unpleasantly."
She added: "And he just kept walking. And he just didn't introduce himself, there was no flirtation, nothing." She explained that she knew if she made a complaint she would be asked to leave the party.
Second incident and impact
Frances-White went on to say the man "came around again and put his tongue in my mouth, he never said a single word to me." She described it as "a weird sticky feeling that stays with you" but said she does not feel massively traumatised, while noting many women would find it extremely triggering, especially those who have been assaulted before.
The debate followed the Russell Brand rape conviction last week, with the panel also including Defence Minister Luke Pollard, shadow AI minister Ben Spencer, Liberal Democrat Layla Moran and Reform UK's Matt Goodwin. Fiona Bruce hosted the hour-long discussion.
