In the clip, Mel, Louis and fellow judges Simone Cowell and Cheryl Cole are being interviewed by Sarah-Jane Crawford on The Xtra Factor when Walsh places his hand on the former Spice Girl’s bum and begins to shake it.
Upon realising what is happening, she immediately stops the interview, and asks the Irish entertainment manager, “Why are you grabbing my butt?”
To which he responds to the rest of the group, “I’m looking after Mel.”
Sensing the singer’s discomfort, host Sarah-Jane then says to “Louis! Hands where we can see them please!” to which Simon responds to Mel B, “Honestly, you’re safe.”
sexual harassment on live TV folks pic.twitter.com/tjJtE45ZFk
— junieblackjones•°? (@dys_nania) July 8, 2018
While neither Mel nor Louis have commented on the video from December 2017, fans were quick to point how this is the sort of treatment women have to put up with in the workplace every day.
If you watch the video of Louis Walsh groping Mel B on live TV and don't think it's a problem, don't you dare 'not all men' ever again. YOU are the men we're talking about.
— obstreperous always (@julia_wylde) July 10, 2018
All these people defending Louis walsh rubbing up mel b’s bum are part of the problem. Its a violation no matter what
— SoFrolushes (@SoFrolushes) July 10, 2018
that incident with mel b and louis walsh grabbing her butt happened over 3 years ago?? and it's just now surfacing wtf took yall long enough to expose that old rodent
— ?????????? (@thesvnsense) July 10, 2018
I just warched Louis Walsh groping Mel B in a video and I'm completly disgusted. I feel nausiated and I want to throw up. How the hell is nothing...like howww?? WHY? Why does he even still have his job? How is he getting away with this???? I'm so confused...
— riotracy?? (@loveriotracy) July 10, 2018
The emergence of the video comes at a time when the entertainment industry is dealing with the #MeToo movement which is a campaign against sexual harassment and assault.
The movement spread virally in October 2017 to help demonstrate the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace and it was soon followed by sexual misconduct allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
