A "The Voice of Holland" juror was sentenced for rape
Misuse of a candidate on "The Voice of Holland" cannot be proven by the court, but former jury member Ali B. is sentenced to two years in prison for rape. In the judgment, the judges emphasized the "courage" of the victim of the well-known Dutch rapper.
A Dutch rapper and former jury member on the TV singing competition "The Voice of Holland" has been sentenced to two years in prison for rape and attempted rape. The 42-year-old Ali B., who was not present at the sentencing according to media reports, was also acquitted of the charges of sexual assault against a candidate of the original version of the famous casting show. The judges found the testimonies credible but not enough evidence for the accusations.
Ali B. was convicted for raping a woman in 2018 at a "Writer's Camp" in the northern Netherlands. He was also convicted for the attempted rape of Dutch artist Ellen ten Damme in 2014 during a stay in Morocco for recording a song for a TV show.
"The actions of Ali B. significantly affected the physical integrity of the victims," the judgment read. "He was driven by his own sexual desires without regard for the women and the consequences of his behavior for them." The victims were required to show courage in the face of the rapper's status.
The rapper denies the charges and will file an appeal, his lawyer told the Dutch broadcaster NOS. In "The Voice," musicians can be judges - so-called coaches - who can sing, sitting in swivel chairs, and judge only by the voice. The format has been sold to over 150 countries since 2010.
The public outcry over the conviction of Ali B, a former judge on "The Voice of Holland," for rape and attempted rape, has sparked discussions about the portrayal of sexualized violence in the entertainment industry. Despite being acquitted of sexual assault allegations against a contestant of the show, Ali B's convictions for other acts of sexual abuse have led to questions about the judgments made by prominent figures in the entertainment world. The rape case and subsequent sentencing serve as a reminder that the Netherlands, like many other countries, continues to grapple with issues of sexual abuse and the impact it has on victims.
