Actress sues over harassment video

A woman who was the centrepiece of a popular video about street harassment has filed a lawsuit against its director and the organisation that put it out.

Actress Shoshana Roberts, who was videotaped walking around the city while men commented on her appearance, filed her lawsuit in Manhattan.

According to the lawsuit, while she was paid $200 to appear in the video, her performance and likeness were used for “advertising or trade without her prior written consent” and she’s seeking at least $500,000.

She says she should be awarded money after the video, which has received tens of millions of views online, was used to cash in on advertising.

The suit names director Rob Bliss and the anti-street harassment group that released the video, Hollaback!

The video compiled comments and catcalls that Roberts, who was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, heard from men as she walked Manhattan streets over the course of 10 hours.

Bliss walked in front of her with a camera in his backpack recording everything that was said.

The video spurred outrage and sparked conversations about street harassment.