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'Big Brother' sexual assault trial opens in Spain

Published Nov 04, 2022 5:38 am

A former contestant on Spain's "Big Brother" went on trial in Madrid on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting another contestant as the reality TV show was being filmed.

The case, which shocked Spain, centres on an incident that allegedly took place between two contestants following an alcohol-fuelled party in November 2017 when the victim was in a clear state of inebriation.

Although the footage never aired, producers of the hit show came under fire for their handling of the incident after they confronted the victim, who was 24 at the time, with video evidence of an assault of which she had not been aware. 

"Big Brother" is a hugely popular reality show featuring contestants locked in a purpose-built house for weeks on end with their every move tracked on camera 24 hours a day. Viewers then vote off the contestants one by one.

The trial had been due to start in February but it was delayed because the victim, Carlota Prado, was struggling with her mental health and did not feel not fit to testify at the time.

Prado has reportedly since withdrawn her accusation against the man, Jose Maria Lopez, who faces a jail term of two years if he is convicted of sexual assault.

Public prosecutors are also asking for a 6,000-euro ($5,850) fine for Lopez and the Spanish production company which made the reality TV show.

Prosecutors say Lopez took advantage of the fact that Prado was in a "state of semi-consciousness" and "continued touching, rubbing and making other clearly sexual movements" while both were covered by a duvet.

In footage recorded by the television show, Prado can be heard "mumbling weakly 'I can't'," and seen "raising her hand twice as if wanting to tell him to stop", prosecutors said. 

After about 10 minutes, when she pushed the duvet aside, the production crew realised "she was unconscious" and moved to intervene, and Lopez was kicked off the show.

The victim only became aware of the alleged assault when the producers showed her the footage the next morning, causing her to break down. 

The story only became public two years after the alleged assault, when El Confidencial news website published footage of producers showing her the clips. (AFP)