THE NETHERLANDS – RTL abruptly announced yesterday morning that the latest season of The Voice of Holland would be cancelled after the second episode, which aired on Friday. Tim Hofman, a journalist, had informed them of several allegations of sexual misconduct by The Voice crew members. As a result, ITV, the broadcaster and production company, decided to launch an investigation into the allegations before proceeding with the current season. #BOOS, Hofman’s show, will premiere this Thursday. Several victims will share their stories on The Voice of Holland during the show.
Jeroen Rietbergen, the bandleader of The Voice of Holland, issued a statement shortly after RTL’s announcement. He admits to years of sexual misbehaviour in the statement. According to the newspaper AD, he would promise contestants that if they engaged in sexual activities, he would ensure their advancement to the next round.
Later that afternoon, Dutch police confirmed that an official report had been filed against Ali B by a victim. For the past nine seasons, the rapper has served as a coach on The Voice. On his Instagram account, he, however, denied all allegations.
Tim Hofman and his broadcaster, BNN-VARA, later announced that more crew members would be mentioned in the show on Thursday.
The news has sparked a heated debate in the country about the abuse of power by people in the entertainment industry, especially since singer Marco Borsato has already been accused of sexual misconduct in several cases.
From 2011 to 2015, Borsato served as a judge on The Voice. Underage victims are among those who have filed claims against him.
Anouk, who represented the Netherlands in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, was the last of the coaches and hosts to speak out. In her video, she states that she wanted to wait until she saw the #BOOS episode before posting.
She has changed her mind, however, after reading the Jeroen Rietbergen statement and making several phone calls.
ANOUK’S STATEMENT
“The news is so saddening and a major disappointment. I know enough. Iโve decided I donโt want to return to The Voice. Itโs a corrupt mess. I donโt want to work at a place where men have, for years, abused their positions and where others have chosen to keep the misconduct silent and look the other way. You just canโt do that. Youโve got structural issues when you do that. I do not wish to be part of such behaviour, thatโs just not me. So, therefore, I will not return to The Voice of Holland.”
Teeuwe has been a coach on The Voice of Holland since the sixth season, in 2015. Her abilities allowed her to win the show three times, including the last two seasons with Sophia Kruithof and Dani van Velthoven. Previously, the show featured some well-known performers, including Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence in 2014. Aside from Anouk, several other Eurovision contestants have served on the judging panel. Glennis Grace, Waylon, Ilse DeLange, Trijntje Oosterhuis, and Jan Smit are among them.
Glennis Grace, a fellow coach and 2005 Eurovision contestant, expressed her feelings on Instagram yesterday. The singer is new to The Voice and only joined the panel this season, but she commented on the allegations, saying she was “shocked.”
Waylon, a two-time Eurovision contestant, issued a similar statement. His management stated that the 41-year-old was “deeply saddened” by the news and that none of the allegations had anything to do with Waylon himself.
Aside from Anouk, the most powerful statement came from host Chantal Janzen, who is no stranger to the Eurovision stage, having hosted the Rotterdam contest in 2021.
CHANTAL JANZEN RESPONDS
“To those who apparently knew about the sick and twisted practices for about ten years already, went silent about them and tried to cover them up, who now all respond by saying youโre so โshockedโ: Please leave those words to the victims. Yes, Iโve only been the host of The Voice for two years now and I just read in the media that, apparently, I โcanโt really say much about the matterโ: No, it has now become clear that there is a whole lot I do NOT know about this show. But two years is long enough for me to know that there are people, a lot of people, who work on this show with a good heart and conscious mind. They all work so hard. They have a heart for this show. It is embarrassing and sad [that things have been swept under the carpet for so long]. Itโs time to stop covering things up. Everything needs to be out in the open. The victims and their families come first and then thereโs a big, big gap before we need to care about anyone else, such as the hard-working employees and others who may have been affected. THEY are shocked!”
