An incident in which a man nuzzles and licks the ear of an on-air TV journalist reporting on a comedy event was roundly condemned on Wednesday, with some arguing the actions amounted to an assault.

In a widely seen clip, CBCB次元官网网址檚 Chris Glover is talking back to the studio when one man leans into the frame behind him and mugs in front of the camera before leaving while a second man, dressed in a green Saskatchewan Roughriders hoodie, moves in on the reporter.

The man, identified by multiple viewers as comic actor Boyd Banks who has appeared on CBC shows, proceeds to demonstratively lick GloverB次元官网网址檚 ear and kisses his neck while the journalist continues speaking, before throwing it back to the studio with the line:

B次元官网网址淭hings are getting a little awkward out here, so IB次元官网网址檓 going to pass it back to you,B次元官网网址� Glover said.

B次元官网网址淵eah, thatB次元官网网址檚 a little strange. ItB次元官网网址檚 really unnecessary,B次元官网网址� host Dwight Drummond told Glover. B次元官网网址淛ust move away from that gentleman.B次元官网网址�

Neither Glover nor Drummond responded to a request for comment. However, a spokesman for CBC denounced the manB次元官网网址檚 actions and praised the reporter.

This is so disturbing and I get more uncomfortable every time I watch this creepy guy assault on live television. Why do people think itB次元官网网址檚 OK to & reporters while they do their job?! ItB次元官网网址檚 gotta stop!

B次元官网网址� Jeffrey Vallis (@jeffrey_vallis)

B次元官网网址淐hris Glover showed remarkable composure and professionalism in the face of a very awkward situation,B次元官网网址� Chuck Thompson said. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the trend of harassing reporters continues and is something we take very seriously.B次元官网网址�

Thompson called the incident B次元官网网址渢roubling as they are unacceptable.B次元官网网址� He did not say what, if anything, the broadcaster planned to do about the situation. Toronto police said they had no record of a complaint.

Saskatchewan-born Banks, who has multiple film and TV credits including the CBCB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淟ittle Mosque on the Prairie,B次元官网网址� could not be immediately reached for comment.

In recent years, female reporters in particular have been the subject of crude, harassing catcalls which, in some cases, have resulted in charges against the perpetrator. More recently, other journalists have been physically assaulted while doing their jobs in public.

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The 40-second clip of Glover sparked outrage on social media, with some condemning what happened as an assault, and others saying they would not have remained so calm.

B次元官网网址淭his is disgusting,B次元官网网址� CBC reporter Lorenda Reddekopp tweeted. B次元官网网址淚 also canB次元官网网址檛 believe none of the bystanders did anything.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his is so disturbing and I get more uncomfortable every time I watch,B次元官网网址� said Toronto-based writer Jeffrey Vallis on Twitter. B次元官网网址淲hy do people think itB次元官网网址檚 OK to harass and assault reporters while they do their job?B次元官网网址�

Thompson said the particular assignment was viewed as B次元官网网址渓ow riskB次元官网网址� but noted situations can be unpredictable. Regardless, Thompson called the incident troubling.

B次元官网网址淭his type of harassment is completely unacceptable from any individual,B次元官网网址� he said.

Colin Perkel, the Canadian Press

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