Video vixen allegedly beaten by dancehall artiste

Video vixens across Jamaica are lashing out following an alleged assault of a colleague by a dancehall artiste during a music video shoot earlier this week.

The woman was reportedly attacked after asking the entertainer to respect the models' privacy as they prepared for their scenes.

"I'm honestly tired of the disrespect," 23-year-old vixen Titania Hibbert, who is not the alleged victim told THE WEEKEND STAR. "We contribute to the growth of dancehall. We are the ones making your videos look good, but yet, they treat us like we're not humans. This coulda happen to any one of us."

According to Hibbert, six female models were booked to appear in the video, but things reportedly went downhill before they even arrived on set.

"From inna di car, one of the girls asked one of his friends to just wind down the window because she have asthma and dem in there a smoke. The man refused, said him nah do that, and basically ignored her," Hibbert recounted. Tensions escalated at the set when the artiste reportedly entered the room where the models were changing and refused to leave when asked.

"After some back and forth, words were exchanged. He left the room and came back and all when him friend dem a tell him fi leave the girl alone, him forcefully pushed the door and start beat her in front of everybody," Hibbert claimed. Despite the presence of other models and the artiste's entourage, Hibbert said the man continued to attack the woman, who later went to the police and hospital. The police's Corporate Communications Network said it had no record of the incident. However, the alleged victim indicated that she had made a report at a police station, and told the news team that she was seeking medical attention.

UNFORTUNATE SITUATION

Shania Palmer, founder of Platinum Entertainment Ja, an agency that books models for shoots, said it's unfortunate that women aren't treated with the respect they deserve despite playing a key role in growing dancehall's image globally.

"Yet, we are mostly appreciated abroad. Here at home, we're seen as too 'slack' or 'provocative', and worse disposable," she said. Palmer said the backlash online has been disturbing, with many blaming the victim and suggesting that vixens should "get a real 9-5." Some female commenters have also criticised the other vixens for not intervening.

"It's very concerning that a lot of you are focused on the girls not doing enough in the fight. You all are taking attention away from the fact that this boy put him hands pon a girl and traumatised everyone there. Everyone there was a victim," she said.

Palmer said that although not all artistes behave inappropriately, there's a consistent problem when large entourages are allowed on small sets.

"From my experience, the harassment mostly comes from the crew, not necessarily the artiste himself," she added.

Hibbert said many vixens are left to operate independently, often taking jobs through social media with little to no information about the employer or shoot conditions.

"Most times you don't even know who the artiste is until you reach. Producers just say, 'Bring four girls', and that's it. So we always tell each other, ask for full details. If yuh know yuh have history with a man, avoid him. Especially if him have ego and love disrespect," she said. Hibbert also noted that there is an assumption that vixens are sex workers.

"Selling your body is different, what we do is entertainment, and yes, we look sexy, but that nuh mean we're selling ourselves. Most of us stand our ground. We don't mix up like that." She said the dancehall artiste needs to be punished, as that would send a message.

"Treat we with respect, simple. We're not sex toys."