The recent #MeToo movement created a huge buzz on social media. Several high-profile personalities from different sectors were exposed for their misdeeds while it gave an opportunity to the victimised females to speak out loud. Something similar was witnessed during the 2nd T20I clash between India and New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
During the Kiwi innings, when all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn came out to bat, a woman was spotted in the stands holding a banner that read, “Wake up, NZ Cricket, #Me Too”. Later, it was learned that the banner was directed at Kuggeleijn who was accused of raping a woman in Hamilton in 2015.
Several media reports stated that the case went to trial in 2016 where there was a hung jury. Later, the case came under the hammer again in 2017 and Kuggeleijn was declared not guilty by the jury. During the trial, the cricketer admitted that the woman had denied at least twice.
“I tried [making physical relation] twice like she might have said ‘no, no’ a few times, but it wasn’t a dozen times,” Kuggeleijn was quoted as saying by New Zealand media. He also stated that he had apologised to the woman the next day.
Earlier during the first T20I in Wellington, another woman held a banner that read, “No means No” at the Westpac Stadium. Later, the security personnel confiscated the banner and escorted the woman, holding it away from her seat.
The New Zealand Cricket and the stadium management then apologised for removing the banner in the first encounter and admitted that it was a mistake.
“I think, on this occasion, we should have shown better judgment and exercised more discretion. We agree it was an over-reaction and unnecessary, and that the message certainly wasn’t offensive,” NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock mentioned.