Brianna Hamblin is inspired by the outpouring of love from supporters after she was harassed while setting up to go live at 6 a.m. last month.
Hamblin, a reporter for Spectrum News in Rochester, NY, was setting up for a live report about a local healthy meals program when she was verbally attacked by a homeless man.
Despite not dressing provocatively, and not wearing too much makeup, Hamblin is constantly getting hit on by men while on the job.
She took to Twitter.com to complain that her striking beauty is both a blessing a curse.
“Being hit on and harassed as a woman, especially as a woman reporter out in the field, happens so often you learn how to roll with it or ignore it. This time it happened to be recorded only seconds before my hit. There are A LOT of things wrong with this.”
WARNING: CRUDE LANGUAGE
Being hit on and harassed as a woman, especially as a woman reporter out in the field, happens so often you learn how to roll with it or ignore it. This time it happened to be recorded only seconds before my hit. There are A LOT of things wrong with this. pic.twitter.com/5Ok58Vm7e0— Brianna Hamblin (@BriReports) July 23, 2021
The video went viral and Brianna trended from coast to coast.
In an interview with TODAY, Hamblin said she shared the video on Twitter because she hoped to show people what beautiful female reporters deal with on a daily basis in the field.
She was surprised that so many men reached out to her to apologize for their fellow man’s behavior.
“And just as a woman in general. There were so many men that were shocked by (the video),” she said. “There was a lot of comments saying like, ‘I can’t believe this is still happening 2021.'”
Hamblin said she didn’t expect the video to go viral with over 5 million views.
“It is sometimes a wake-up call to people who aren’t … experiencing it,” she said. “I was not expecting it to be as widespread as it has been.”
Spectrum News temporarily assigned Hamblin to desk duty amid the public backlash to the video.
Now she only covers plum assignments, such as the opening of a golf course or awards ceremonies.
Hamblin is ecstatic that she no longer has to dress like a librarian or look over her shoulder while working at 6 a.m. in the hood.
She has upgraded her wardrobe and her hairstyles to go along with her raise in salary.
This week marks my one year of reporting in Rochester! And WOW what a year it’s been! COVID, protests, speaking with passionate people about so many things, talking to families and friends of those who lost loved ones, reporting on events, people, and programs making a difference pic.twitter.com/w26ZOZFYMP
— Brianna Hamblin (@BriReports) August 5, 2021
Hamblin has received supportive messages from people around the world. She is pictured below with her longtime boyfriend Aaron Sanders.
On Thursday, she tweeted:
“This city and the surrounding area has so much to offer. I’ve been welcomed with open arms by so many people here. I’m grateful and feel blessed. Can’t wait to continue to tell your stories Rochester.”
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