Overview

• Helen Fielding shared at the Soho Summit that she was routinely groped by male colleagues while working at the BBC in her 20s during the 1980s.
• Fielding described the behavior as normalized at the time, with women feeling resigned to tolerate such misconduct in the workplace.
• Her personal experiences directly influenced the depiction of sexual harassment in her 'Bridget Jones' novels and films, including scenes with unwanted advances from male characters.
• Fielding also highlighted ongoing sexism in the film industry, emphasizing that women still face unequal treatment and must fight harder for opportunities.
• The BBC issued a public apology, acknowledging Fielding’s claims and stating that societal and institutional attitudes have significantly evolved over the past 40 years.