A Dutch politician was mistakenly removed from a live TV debate after security confused him with a notorious vegan streaker. Kevin Nuijten, a candidate for the right-wing JA21 party, was attending the Debate of the South in Tilburg on Saturday evening when guards led him outside and placed him in a police van.
The mix-up occurred because Nuijten bears a striking resemblance to Peter Janssen, who has become infamous for gatecrashing events in black briefs to protest for animal rights. Janssen’s latest stunt occurred on Thursday, when he appeared behind presenter Eva Jinek on her talk show, shouting about animals.
Nuijten said through a party spokesman that he had 'good conversations' with the officers, but it took around 15 minutes to convince them of his identity. He was released after they looked up his name online. As a goodwill gesture, he was given a beer and a branded scarf.
Renzo Veestra, editor-in-chief of the broadcaster hosting the debate, said the Dutch diplomatic police had been tipped off by a reporter from a national broadcaster that the man was a '100 percent' match for the streaker. Janssen, 40, has been conducting pro-animal rights stunts for over 15 years, including releasing mink from a fur farm in 2009.
