Scroll to continue reading<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAccording to Ms Janine, the man in long pants repeatedly leaned forward to stare at her for about five seconds at a time, which made her feel \u201ccreeped out and uncomfortable.\u201d When she eventually asked him \u201cWhy?\u201d, he stared back and mouthed unintelligible words. <\/p>\n
Ms Janine claimed this behavior persisted for nearly an hour before they decided to leave.<\/p>\n
While waiting for their Grab driver, the two men allegedly stood in front of a 7-Eleven outlet nearby and began catcalling them.<\/p>\n
The men crossed the road to approach them, asking where they were going and demanding their phone numbers \u2014 requests the women ignored. <\/p>\n
In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Ms Janine and her friend crossed back to the other side of the road. However, the men continued to catcall and used hand gestures to \u201csign\u201d phone numbers while pointing at them, suggesting that it is likely the men\u2019s phone number.<\/p>\n
\u2018Mr Nice Guy\u2019 to the rescue <\/h2>\n
Feeling unsafe, Ms Janine approached a male bystander who owned a shop in the area. <\/p>\n
While he offered to confront the harassers, Ms Janine and her friend declined, as they did not want to start a fight. Instead, she asked if he could stand with them until their ride arrived.<\/p>\n
The man, whom Ms Janine dubbed \u201cMr Nice Guy,\u201d immediately agreed. During their conversation, Ms Janine revealed she lives in Punggol while her friend lives in Sembawang.<\/p>\n
When her friend realised they had indicated the wrong pickup location for their private hire ride, the man offered to walk them to the correct location.<\/p>\n
Ms Janine noted that the two men finally left once the stranger stepped in, so he did not have to walk them all the way. She expressed deep gratitude to the man for making them feel safe in a moment of distress.<\/p>\n
Although she was shocked by the incident, she said that both her and her friend are doing fine now.<\/p>\n
Ms Janine, who has lived in Singapore for eight years and works as a teacher, said this was the first time she had experienced such an incident. She admitted that because it was her first time, it did not occur to them to shout for attention or call the police in the moment.<\/p>\n
She offered parting advice to others in similar situations: \u201cI am aware now that once you are in such a situation, do not be silent about it. Don\u2019t be scared to create a commotion; it\u2019s your safety. Don\u2019t take it for granted and ask for help, or even call the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Janine \u2018stunned\u2019 by comments blaming her and friend<\/h2>\n
The TikTok post has garnered more than 139,000 views, 2,600 likes and 90 comments.<\/p>\n
Many netizens expressed sympathy to both of them, wishing them to stay safe<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m so sorry the both of you have to experience this,\u201d one TikTok user commented, \u201cThat\u2019s so wild and disrespectful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another added: \u201cSadly, Singapore has not been as safe as it used to be, so sorry you had to go through that. Glad you both were safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Ms Janine said she was \u201cstunned\u201d by comments blaming them for the incident, with some questioning their choice of clothing or why they were out late.<\/p>\n
In response to critics asking why they didn\u2019t call the police immediately, she replied: \u201cWhen you\u2019re in the same situation, you wouldn\u2019t act as fast as you think now.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that if a similar incident happened in the future, she would call the police.<\/p>\n
A user named @saintpablooo, who claimed to be the man who helped the pair in the video and the owner of The Cartel\u2019s Vintage Store at Haji Lane, commented in their defence.<\/p>\n
He called the dismissive comments \u201cdisturbing\u201d and urged others to show empathy.<\/p>\n
\u201cStep outside your bubble for a moment and ask yourself this: what if it were your daughter, sister or someone you care about in that situation? Would you still think the same way?\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Stomp](\"https:\/\/www.stomp.sg\/assets\/stomp-comment-COLiWNMD.png\")
<\/p>\n
Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n