American vlogging duo Mackenzie and Keenan, recognized for their travel series spotlighting Kerala, have alleged encountering sexual harassment while attending the state’s renowned Thrissur Pooram festival on April 19. They documented their experiences in a recent video shared on their Instagram account ‘UNSTUK with Mac & Keen’, detailing two disturbing incidents of harassment during the festival.
Entitled ‘Questionable Moments at Thrissur Pooram’, the video opens with Mackenzie stating, “We’ve had some wonderful moments at Thrissur Pooram, but there were also some questionable moments.” It depicts Mackenzie interviewing a festival participant, who then attempts to forcibly kiss her. Both Mackenzie and Keenan expressed discomfort and vocalized objections during the incident.
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Later in the video, Keenan disclosed that he was also groped by a man, estimated to be in his 50s, at the festival. According to TNM, Thrissur police stated that the vloggers had not yet lodged a formal complaint.
The couple, who aim to “immerse themselves in local life and explore authentic culture worldwide,” have extensively featured Kerala in their travel content, highlighting its positive aspects. In March, Mackenzie asserted the safety of Kerala for travellers, particularly women, in a video. However, they faced criticism after a Spanish woman was gang-raped and her husband assaulted in Jharkhand, prompting Mackenzie to clarify in another video that while the incident was tragic, it should not reflect on all of India. She reiterated feeling safe in Kerala, stating it was the safest she had felt despite their extensive travels.
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