Vanessa Feltz slams people for their ‘vile reaction’ to her Rolf Harris assault claims

Vanessa Feltz has described the reaction on social media to her claim Rolf Harris assaulted her during a live television interview as "vile"

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by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Vanessa Feltz recently revealed that disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris put his hand up her dress and felt her legs during an interview in 1996.

Speaking with the Daily Express about the assault, she said: "I could feel the fabric of my dress being gathered up, and rolled up and rolled up obviously in his hand so he could get closer and closer, kind of up my legs.

"And I just thought, 'oh my gosh'."

READ: LINDA NOLAN CLAIMS ROLF HARRIS 'LICKED HER' WHEN SHE WAS 15

The presenter said it did not occur to her to go to the police.

She said: "I didn't want to break up a marriage, I didn't want to have a terrible effect on his career, and also I thought it wasn't that serious: after all I'd managed to stop it in the nick of time."

Of that decision, she said: "I regret it because I didn't know that it was happening to lots of other people. If I had known, I suppose I would have reacted differently."

Vanessa Feltz said Rolf Harris put his hand on her thigh during a live TV interview
Vanessa Feltz said Rolf Harris put his hand on her thigh during a live TV interview

READ: ROLF HARRIS SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS 9 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

However now, in an interview with BBC London 94.9, Vanessa has claimed that she has received an "outpouring of misogyny and hatred" on social media.

"You think if people react like that, you can see why people don't come forward," she said.

"I'm 52 and I can handle myself so imagine if I was a seven-year-old child, or 12 or 17."

READ: POLICE FIND CHILD PORN IMAGES ON ROLF HARRIS' COMPUTER

"I'm not saying just if it's someone famous, but imagine if it was your dad, uncle or teacher.

"The kind of reaction I have had, I found so upsetting. I was upset by the outpouring of misogyny and hatred and you know 'who would want to assault Vanessa Feltz'."

Harris, 84, has been jailed for nearly six years for 12 indecent assaults.

You should also read: Linda Nolan opens up about 'sordid' encounter she had with Rolf Harris when she was 15

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