Abbie Chatfield has recalled being “objectified” and “choked” during her time as a young hospitality worker.
In the latest episode of her podcast, It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield; the serial reality star discussed horrific experiences had by herself and other women while working in the hospitality industry.
After noting that she wasn’t sure “if [she] should say this”, Abbie said she was once made to serve a group of police officers “like Marilyn Monroe“.
“I’m just gonna say it,” the 27-year-old decided. “I’ve had cops request that I sing Happy Birthday to them while bringing their cake out to them, like Marilyn Monroe.”
The Hollywood starlet in question is well-known for her sultry performance of the song in celebration of President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday in 1962.
Despite declining to embody the role and have the officers “objectify” her, Abbie said her superiors forced her to serve the group because they “let [them] off” for any trouble she had at the venue.
“It was like, ‘No, because the cops come in every night and you know, they let us off because of fights we have, or if we break rules slightly, so you’ve got to go out and sing [Happy Birthday] to one of the cops’.
“I was Marilyn Monroe at age 19 or 20. They force you to go,” she added. “What am I going to do?”
Abbie Chatfield Says She was “Choked” and “Locked In Freezers”
**CONTENT WARNING: The following discusses sexual and verbal assault and may be distressing to some readers.
The new Masked Singer Australia judge confessed that she “didn’t tell [her] mum anything that went on in [her] workplace” before revealing further incidents that occurred as a hospo employee.
“I was quote-unquote jokingly choked by people that I worked with, by my halterneck top”, Abbie admitted.
She also confessed that the blame was then put on her when she became emotional over the altercations.
She continued: “I’d cry and [it was] like, ‘Oh, Abbie’s crying again, classic’.”
Abbie, who first rose to popularity on The Bachelor Australia in 2019, revealed that she was also “locked in freezers” under the guise of a “joke”.
“When I worked in certain industries — I can’t say where I worked — but I also have been locked in freezers as a quote-unquote joke,” she said. “I would cry and be like, ‘Let me out’, and be banging on the door.
“They’d be like, ‘Where were you?’, and I’d be like, ‘Oh, well, someone’s locked me in the freezer’.”
However, Abbie said she was consistently told to “get over it”.
“It’s very bad.”
Fans Resonate with Abbie’s Experience as a Hospitality Worker
In the comment section of a video shared from the podcast recording, fans revealed they suffered similar experiences as Abbie.
“This means a lot that you say this too,” one follower wrote. “I had my manager grab my ponytail while blurred lines was playing and I sobbed. They thought I was dramatic. [sic].”
The same user revealed that she’s had multiple men try to kiss her while she was working.
Another penned that she had the “same type of experiences”.
“Wish I had the resilience I have now to have stood up for myself back then. [sic].” she said.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual assault, please contact the Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence National Help Line on 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) or head to The Australian Human Rights Commission for a list of state by state resources.
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