Investigation
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In recent years, reports of sexual and sexist attacks occurring at metal festivals have increased. The organizers of the event claim to be dealing with the problem and have launched a new prevention system for this 17th edition, which runs until Sunday June 30. Yet another communication stunt, believe several women on the staff.
Welcome to Infernopolis: the 17th edition of Hellfest began on Thursday, June 27, to a sold-out crowd. In Clisson, in Loire-Atlantique, the largest metal festival in Europe will welcome nearly 250,000 people from all over the world until Sunday. A city that has sprung up for four days. With, inevitably, its proportional share of incivility, misdemeanors, and even crimes. Despite the speeches of some metalheads who still want to believe in a bubble of pure benevolence, this festival is not spared from testimonies of sexist and sexual violence (SSA), which have been increasing for several years.
After a decade of denial, Hellfest claims to finally be up to the task: this June 21 on social networks, the organization announced a new prevention and listening system, “HellCare”. A center of 150 people, with patrol teams and three permanent stands on the 111 hectares of the site. But also a new mobile application “geolocated reporting” and a dedicated phone number. Awareness or smoke and mirrors?
Despite the good intentions of some officials, Release reveals an accumulation of serious internal failings that undermine, or even discredit, the sincerity displayed by the festival organizers. The management is said to have covered up the sexist actions of managers, and
