Montenegro: Musician Allegedly Harasses Tv Producer Lejla Kasic While Filming – CFWIJ Calls For Investigation

Location: Montenegro, Herceg Novi
Date: March 12, 2023

Producer for TV show Dnevnica Lejla Kašić allegedly harassed by rock musician Rambo Amadeus. Kašić claims he grabbed and insulted her while filming. UNICEF Montenegro has dropped him as their Good Will Ambassador following the allegations. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Lejla Kašić and demands the musician’s actions are investigated.

On March 12, TV producer Lelja Kašić told media she was harassed by musician Antonije Pušić, better known as Rambo Amadeus. Kašić claims she was touched inappropriately and insulted while filming an episode of Dnevnica program for public broadcaster RTCG. The artist admits he touched Kašić but denies it was sexual harassment. Pušić is a famous musician in the Balkans and was a Good Will Ambassador for UNICEF in Montenegro. Following news of allegations the organization suspended him indefinitely. 

“UNICEF has zero tolerance to any form of sexual misconduct,” the UNICEF office in Montenegro said in a statement.

Kašić says while filming on March 10 in the town of Herceg Novi, she told other crew members that Pušić “touched me inappropriately”. She then argued with Pušić, and claimed he called her “crazy and stupid”. Afterward, she said, “I received a message (from Pušić) that was just another attempt at manipulation, in which he said that I got the wrong impression from him that we can be good friends”, Kasic told daily newspaper Vijesti.

Lejla Kašić told Radio Free Europe that the experience with Pušić was traumatic. She reported the incident to her employer, police, and UNICEF in Montenegro. “It is wrong on so many levels. Such a person works with the most vulnerable category – children. I was thinking about what to do because our institutions do not react to many serious cases, they are silent on femicide, and domestic violence… I decided that I will not remain silent. For the sake of all the girls who, for whatever reason, think they must remain silent. It is my moral, civic, and feminine duty, and obligation to speak,” Kašić said.

In response to Kašić’s allegations, Pušić admitted he unintentionally touched the producer but it was not harassment. He refused to apologize. Editor for Dnevnica TV show Vladan Otašević expressed support for Kašić and disappointment with Pušić's statement.

"I was secretly hoping that he would say that he was sorry for his actions and that he would apologize. Instead, he almost gave a reason to many who are like him to behave in the same way. The only thing worse than his announcement are the comments of people on the networks justifying his actions.” Otašević said.

Montenegro is a society divided along ethnic, religious, and political grounds in addition to a patriarchal culture that often confines women to traditional gender roles. Women journalists in Montenegro are often dismissed, insulted, and belittled because of their gender. Montenegrin journalist Duska Pejovic writes that she and her female colleagues are often treated unequally and subject to online harassment. “On news websites, one can find sexist and misogynistic comments underneath articles signed by female journalists – ranging from belittlement and snickering, through vulgar messages of a sexual nature, to suggestions that she would be better off doing the laundry, all the way to posting of alleged information about her private life and love affairs,” writes Pejovic.  

The Coalition For Women In Journalism commends Lelja Kašić for sharing her experience publicly. When women speak out about harassment involving a famous person they often attract public vitriol. Trolling and abuse of Kašić are unacceptable. We applaud the editor of Dnevnica for vehemently standing by their producer and appreciate UNICEF Montenegro’s swift suspension of Pušić. Police should take Kašić’s allegations seriously and investigate the incident immediately.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.