The viral video of Brazilian sports reporter Duda Dalponte having her hair yanked by unruly football fans has shocked viewers around the world. Beyond the headlines, it shines an uncomfortable spotlight on how hair can be weaponised – especially against women in public-facing roles – and why safety, consent and respect must sit at the heart of fan culture and workplace expectations.
In the UK, where football, live events and social media fandom collide daily, this incident is a stark reminder that hair is not just an accessory; it is a deeply personal part of our identity and bodily autonomy. Here, we explore how hair-pulling fits into wider conversations about respect, boundaries and professional conduct, and how individuals – from pitch-side reporters to everyday commuters – can better protect their hair and themselves in crowded, emotionally charged spaces.
When Hair Becomes a Target: Power, Gender and Public Spaces
Hair-pulling is often dismissed as schoolyard behaviour, but for many women in public-facing jobs – including reporters, presenters, stylists and performers – it can be a very real occupational hazard. In the case of Dalponte, her hair was used as an easy point of control and humiliation in a high-adrenaline football environment. This is far from harmless banter.
In crowded settings such as UK football stadiums, fan zones, concerts and busy transport links, long or styled hair can make someone more vulnerable to unwanted touching or grabbing. While anyone can be targeted, women and gender-diverse people, particularly those working on camera, frequently report unwanted contact with their hair – from casual tugging and patting through to more aggressive pulling.
Hair is bound up with identity, culture, beauty standards and professionalism. For Black women and people with textured hair, there is a long, documented history of unwanted touching and invasive curiosity. For journalists, presenters and influencers, hair is often a recognised part of their professional image – making interference with it not only a physical violation but, arguably, a professional one too.
In UK workplace guidelines and safeguarding policies, any non-consensual contact – including hair-pulling – can be considered harassment or assault, depending on severity. Many employers, particularly in media and live events, are now being encouraged to treat incidents like this with the seriousness they deserve, rather than relegating them to the realm of “over-excited fans”.
Football Culture, Fan Behaviour and the Line Between Excitement and Harm
Football fandom has a powerful emotional energy. Most supporters never cross the line, but incidents like the Dalponte video raise questions about crowd behaviour, entitlement and how far “passion” can be stretched as an excuse for physical intrusion.
UK football has made huge strides in addressing overt hooliganism, racism and pitch invasions, yet more subtle forms of boundary-crossing – hair-pulling, groping, cornering reporters or taking intrusive selfies without consent – can slip through the cracks. These behaviours are often normalised as part of the spectacle or brushed off as “just a laugh”.
Broadcasters and clubs working within the UK already maintain codes of conduct for fans and on-site staff, but this conversation urgently needs to extend to on-camera talent, influencers and content creators, who are often left to navigate volatile fan zones with insufficient protection.
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Clear codes of conduct: Explicitly stating that touching staff, including their hair, is unacceptable can help set expectations.
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Visible security and safeguarding teams: Not just for players, but also for reporters, camera crews and presenters working amongst fans.
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Supportive reporting structures: Ensuring those who experience hair-pulling or other harassment can formally report it without fear of minimisation or career damage.
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Fan education: Clubs and broadcasters can use social content and stadium messaging to normalise consent and respectful behaviour.
On a practical level, fans themselves can help by calling out inappropriate behaviour in the moment where it is safe to do so, and by modelling the kind of respect we’d all want for our own friends, sisters or colleagues.
Personal Safety and Practical Hair Strategies in Crowded Environments
While the responsibility for preventing harassment should never fall solely on the individual, many women and gender-diverse people naturally adapt how they wear their hair in busy, high-risk or late-night settings. Stylists often talk about “protective styling for public spaces” – not just in the traditional haircare sense, but in terms of minimising what can be grabbed.
For UK readers who regularly attend matches, gigs or bustling nightlife venues, some of these strategies can offer an additional layer of comfort and control:
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Choose secure styles: High buns, low chignons, braids, twists or neatly tucked wigs and half-wigs reduce the amount of loose hair that can be grabbed. Many stylists recommend strong bobbles, scrunchies or bungee elastics for extra hold.
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Consider headwear: Caps, beanies, silk-lined turbans and headwraps not only protect the hair shaft from friction and weather, but also create a physical barrier, making it harder for anyone to tug directly on your strands.
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Use subtle anchoring: For extensions, wigs or clip-ins, secure anchoring using well-positioned grips and, where appropriate, combs can limit painful movement if someone does make contact with your hair.
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Think about bag and strap placement: Crossbody straps and backpack shoulder pads can sit over longer hair, offering a degree of coverage in a packed queue or train carriage.
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Travel with a mini kit: A small pouch with spare hair ties, a soft-bristle brush and a silk scrunchie means you can quickly change to a more secure style if a space feels rowdier than expected.
None of these are a solution to harassment, but they are practical steps you can take today if you are heading to a match or festival and want to feel more in control of your hair in unpredictable crowds.
Psychological Impact: Why ‘It’s Only Hair’ Misses the Point
For those who have not experienced it, hair-pulling can sound trivial. In reality, having your hair yanked in a public space – especially on camera – can be deeply distressing. It combines physical discomfort with embarrassment, fear and a sense of being suddenly unsafe in your environment.
Reporters and presenters often feel pressure to stay composed, keep smiling and “carry on with the job” while being jostled or touched. But many describe a lingering unease afterwards: hyper-awareness of the crowd behind them, anxiety about appearing live again, and concern that pushing back might be perceived as unprofessional.
In the UK, many broadcasters and production companies now encourage on-screen talent to flag incidents of unwanted contact, including hair-pulling, to their managers or HR. Some also offer access to support services or employee assistance programmes where individuals can talk through their experiences confidentially.
If you ever experience something similar – whether in a stadium, on a night out or at work – it can help to:
- Document what happened as soon as you can: location, time, what you recall and any witnesses.
- Tell someone you trust – a colleague, friend, line manager or venue steward.
- Seek medical advice if there is significant soreness or visible damage to the scalp or hair; many dermatologists and trichologists recommend getting injuries checked, particularly if hair has been forcefully pulled.
- Give yourself permission to take a break or remove yourself from the location if you feel unsettled – your wellbeing comes before the ‘show must go on’ narrative.
Recognising that this type of contact is not insignificant helps validate people’s experiences and underpins a culture where hair-related harassment is reported, not minimised.
How the Hair and Beauty Industry Can Champion Respect and Safety
Brands, salons and hair professionals are uniquely placed to steer the conversation away from blaming hairstyles or victims, and towards collective responsibility, respect and practical empowerment. Hair is our speciality – but humanity has to be part of that expertise.
In the UK, many stylists already talk with clients about how hair intersects with confidence, identity and safety. Whether it’s choosing a festival-proof braided style, discussing secure wig installation for busy commutes, or helping a client feel comfortable returning to public spaces after a negative incident, the salon chair often becomes a space for care beyond aesthetics.
As a hair-focused platform, Hairporium champions this broader understanding of what “haircare” really means. It’s not only about gloss and curl definition; it is about supporting people to move through the world feeling seen, respected and secure.
Practically, the hair industry can:
- Share educational content that normalises consent and challenges the idea that anyone’s hair is public property.
- Offer guidance on protective styles and secure installations for those who regularly navigate crowded or high-intensity environments.
- Collaborate with broadcasters, event organisers and community groups to promote safer fan cultures and clearer safeguarding for public-facing staff.
- Amplify the voices of journalists, influencers and everyday people who speak out about hair-based harassment, so they are met with support rather than dismissal.
For readers, the most immediate action is simple but powerful: respect people’s personal space, including their hair, and raise the conversation when you see lines being crossed – whether in the stands, on social media or in your own social circles.
Key Takeaways
- The viral incident of a reporter’s hair being pulled highlights how hair can be weaponised, especially against women in public-facing roles.
- Hair-pulling and unwanted touching are not harmless fan behaviour; in UK contexts they can amount to harassment and should be treated seriously by employers and organisers.
- Practical strategies such as secure updos, headwear and well-anchored wigs can help individuals feel more protected in crowded or high-adrenaline environments.
- The psychological impact of public hair-pulling is often underestimated; documenting incidents and seeking support is an important step in recovery.
- The hair and beauty industry, including platforms like Hairporium, can help reshape fan and workplace culture by promoting respect, consent and realistic, protective styling advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hair-pulling in a crowd or at a match considered harassment?
In many jurisdictions, including the UK, non-consensual physical contact can be treated as harassment or assault, depending on the severity and context. Hair-pulling is more than a joke – it’s a physical intrusion. If it happens in a stadium, bar or public space, venue staff or security should be informed where it is safe to do so, and formal reporting routes can be used.
What can I do immediately if someone pulls my hair in a public setting?
Prioritise your safety. Move away from the person if you can, alert a steward, security guard or member of staff, and, if appropriate, tell a friend or colleague what has happened. Once you are in a safe place, you may wish to write down details (time, location, description) in case you choose to report it formally. If you have pain or visible damage, many dermatologists and GPs recommend seeking medical advice.
Are certain hairstyles safer in very crowded or rowdy environments?
No style can remove the risk of someone behaving badly, but secure styles can reduce how vulnerable your hair is to grabbing. High buns, braids, twists, tucked-in locs, low chignons and well-fitted wigs or headwraps are often recommended by stylists for festivals, matches and busy nightlife because they keep hair close to the head and harder to yank.
How can employers protect reporters and presenters working among fans?
Broadcasters and media teams can brief staff on safety plans, position talent away from the densest parts of crowds, provide visible security support, and make it clear that any unwanted touching – hair included – should be taken seriously. Clear reporting channels, follow-up support and, where needed, access to counselling or occupational health all contribute to a safer work environment.
What role can hair brands and salons play in tackling this issue?
Hair professionals are trusted voices on how hair relates to confidence and identity. Salons and brands can provide practical advice on secure, protective styling; platform conversations around consent and respect; and support clients who have experienced harassment or hair-based bullying. By treating incidents like the reporter’s not as isolated drama but as part of a wider cultural pattern, the industry can help shift norms towards greater respect.
