Venezuela: Baseball Reporter Mari Montes Endures Years of Online Harassment
Women Press Freedom appalled by persistent sexist attacks against Montes, demands action from Twitter
Location: Venezuela
Date: January 12, 2024
The Coalition for Women in Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Mari Montes, a prominent Venezuelan sports reporter who has endured years of relentless online harassment and misogyny on Twitter. The primary perpetrator has consistently engaged in misogynistic attacks, spreading false narratives and hurling insults at Montes. Women sports journalists, already facing a challenging environment in an industry dominated by men, are frequently the targets of sexist abuse because of their work. We vehemently denounce the harassment of Montes and call on Twitter to offer better protection to women journalists; when abusive behavior is reported on the platform, it must be addressed.
Mari Montes, known for her coverage of the professional baseball league in the United States, has become a target of digital harassment, as revealed on Twitter on January 12, 2024.
Since 2018, Montes has endured a barrage of misogynistic and defamatory attacks from a user identified as Jesús Aguilera Esteller (@44Jesteller). Aguilera, known for sharing sports content with a focus on Venezuelan sports, has repeatedly targeted Montes, referring to her in derogatory terms and making false insinuations about her personal life.
The harassment has not been limited to Montes alone but has also targeted her family, with Aguilera directing insults towards her son, Daniel Álvarez Montes, who is also a sports journalist.
IPYS Venezuela's investigation revealed that between August 2018 and July 2023, Aguilera posted 76 offensive and misogynistic comments targeting Montes and her son, even in contexts unrelated to journalism. Some followers of @44Jesteller on the social media platform have amplified this sexist narrative, further exacerbating the harm caused.
On January 13, the Caracas Press Club issued a statement condemning the ongoing digital harassment against Mari Montes and her family. However, Montes faces challenges reporting the case to Venezuelan authorities as she resides in the United States.
For over two decades, Mari Montes has passionately written about baseball, capturing the history and excellence of Venezuelan players in Major League Baseball in the United States. In a field largely dominated by men, she overcame barriers to become a respected baseball commentator. In 1995, Montes became the first journalist to serve as an official announcer for a national baseball team in Venezuela.
Women sports journalists often face a barrage of harassment on social media platforms. Women Press Freedom has documented numerous cases where merely offering expert commentary on their respective sports leads to a deluge of vicious and sexist online comments. These can escalate to include horrifying threats of death and rape. Women sports journalists also navigate an unequal work environment where they are routinely treated differently from their male counterparts. They endure objectification and harassment from fans, players, and coaches, perpetuating a toxic culture that undermines their professionalism and expertise.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the online harassment faced by Mari Montes and her son. These misogynistic attacks are not just an assault on press freedom but also a violation of the fundamental rights of women journalists. We demand an immediate end to this disgraceful harassment and urge Twitter to take swift action to remove users who repeatedly target Montes and her family.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.
