Man charged with yelling FHRITP obscenity at NTV journalist

A St. John's man alleged to have yelled an obscenity at a reporter in St. John's on Monday has been charged.

NTV reporter Heather Gillis tweeted a photo of a pickup Monday afternoon, saying the driver had yelled "fk her right in the p---y," or FHRITP, at her while she was recording an interview.

"I'm fed up. I'm tired of it," Gillis told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. "No one should have to endure that while they're working. I'm a professional and I was humiliated interviewing a politician. It's time for it to stop."

I'm standing up for myself and the other women who work in this business.- Heather Gillis, reporter

"We feel that this does send a message to people that this type ofbehaviour will not be tolerated,"said RNC media relations officer Geoff Higdon,who explained why the charge was laid.

Higdon saidfemale journalists in St. John's tell him "FHRITP" continues to be an issue andcan happen any time they're working in public.

"This isn't something that in 2017 we should have toremindpeople, that it's inappropriate to yell inappropriate things at people while they'reconductingtheir work, or what ever the case is," Higdon said.

Inappropriate and illegal

Higdon saidunder the "causinga disturbance" section of the Criminal Code, yelling obscene language in publicis breaking the law.

"It's pretty straightforward It's alleged this individual had yelled something very offensive and very obscene at this journalist".

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary responded to Gillis on Twitter, saying it would be investigating the incident.

"Being a loser may not be criminal, but causing a disturbance, s175 of the Criminal Code, is," the RNC tweeted.

Gillis said it's the third time she's been targeted with the expression since she began working at NTV in December 2011. She said she publicized this incident because every one of her female colleagues in St. John's has experienced the same thing.

"[I'm]glad that I'm standing up for myself and the other women who work in this business," she said.

"Hopefully this will set an example that this kind of behaviour needs to stop."

Police speak on man charged for yelling FHRITP obscenity at NTV reporter

7 years ago

Duration 1:48

RNC Const. Geoff Higdon says there was grounds for a charge to be laid after an obscenity was allegedly yelled at a journalist in St. John's

Higdonsaid policehad a witness to corroborate what happened,the reporter had a photo of the truck and licence plate and on Monday night, a charge was laid against a 27-year-old man.

He is scheduled to appear in provincial court June 1.