Mixed martial artist from Brazil Joyce Vieira has revealed that she was “traumatised” by the incident with the man, who allegedly interrupted her sexy beach photoshoot in Rio de Janeiro by masturbating, the British outlet Mirror reports.
The 27-year-old fighter reportedly unleashed her MMA fury on the alleged creep by punching and kicking the man after he continued touching his exposed genitals despite her plea for him to stop. After the young woman reported the case to the police, the suspected pervy beach-goer was apprehended for committing an "obscene act", but has since been released. He has denied the allegations, reportedly insisting that he was urinating. However, an investigation into the case is underway, and will be taken to the Public Ministry "who will act together with Special Criminal Court", according to the Mirror.
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Vieira is eager to see the suspected perpetrator go to prison, according to the newspaper. She told the Mirror that he could act the same way in front of someone’s daughter or granddaughter, noting: “This could end up affecting a whole family because it is traumatising!"
“It affected my life, more because I had that reaction, I didn’t put my head down and I faced up to him! For a whole week I slept and woke up with the scene in my head. Until now I haven’t thought about what my reaction will be if I see him in the street”, she revealed.
The fighter described herself as a feminist and pledged “to embrace the cause”. She noted that although it was the first time she had been harassed like this, she has faced sexism on a daily basis and "suffered a bit from looks from men looking down” during her training.
“But that’s just fuel for me and I want to stay and fight more and more every day for the love that fighting awoke in me”, Vieira vowed.