Hor.rified reporter calls

Canadian news anchor Michelle Mackey was recently filming a segment outside Toronto’s Rogers Centre when a young boy shouted a vulgar phrase at her, a phrase known from an internet meme that has been used to harass female reporters. Shocked to hear the phrase again after years, Mackey was even more disturbed to realize the boy—around 8 or 9 years old—was accompanied by an adult, presumably his father or grandfather, who laughed along with him. The anchor shared the incident on TikTok, blurring their faces out of respect for the child.

Mackey later tried to confront the pair for a conversation, but they walked away, ignoring her. She expressed frustration at the adult for failing to correct the behavior, emphasizing how such language perpetuates misogyny and leaves a lasting emotional impact. She described feeling “violated” and “angry” after the encounter. Mackey received widespread support from her newsroom and viewers, and said she shared the story to raise awareness and help put a stop to such harassment.