'My 10yo was publicly harassed at Billie Eilish for what she was wearing'

EXCLUSIVE: "Two f**heads - grown men - decided they'd put a phone in her face to humiliate her."

When mum Melanie Dale arrived at the Billie Eilish concert on Saturday, she had no idea she was about to have the confrontation of her life.

Melanie, from Malvern East, Melbourne, was there with her daughters, Romi 13, Sloan, 10.

The girls waited while she was "30 centimetres away", looking at the merchandise tent.

That's when two male strangers approached Sloan... with their phones up, seemingly recording her.

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Melanie, a fashion and and content creator with profiles in the high thousands on TikTok and Instagram, turned around and knew exactly what she was seeing: her young daughter being harassed, and most likely filmed.

And just because she was wearing a Chicago Bulls singlet.

Speaking exclusively to Kidspot, Melanie says she "went fu**ing psycho."

She adds, "We convinced her to wear it because we thought it looked cool. But these guys were demanding that she name 'one player', like a test to humiliate her.

"Sloan was confused and nervous. Of course she couldn't name a player. She just liked the top!"

Melanie says she told the young men - whom she estimates were in their 20s - that Sloan is 10, and they shouldn't be recording her. She demanded to see their phones.

"I made such a scene. I was swearing and screaming. I demanded to see their phones and they wouldn't show me.

"So I threatened them. I said that I have a huge social media following, and that if I see Sloan's image anywhere, I will shame them."

The men finally left "like cowards."

But the matter was far from over for Melanie.

Image: Melanie Dale

"I did report the incident to security," she says.

"It surprised me that no one came to help us at the time, though. So I beg people to intervene if they see something like this."

Melanie says she was nevertheless determined to enjoy the night.

"Sloan was so uncomfortable, I bought her a Billie merch shirt to change into. 

"It wasn't until we go home that I really processed the incident. 

"I decided to post a TikTok sharing what happened. I'm not political but I'm a women's rights advocate - we need to stick together.

"But I also want parents to know this is happening. We have the Grand Prix this week, the footy coming up; is this really what happens when you're a mum and you turn your back for two seconds?"

@letsgetlayered

You mess with my daughter, you mess with me. I’m at the @BILLIEEILISH concert in Melbourne, and while my back was turned buying merch for my kids, two men in their early 20s walked up to my 10-year-old daughter and started filming her without my consent—all to embarrass her. One of them shoved a phone in her face while the other mocked her, asking, “Name one player on the Bulls team?” Let me be clear: I lost my mind. I went ballistic. And you bet I made a scene. Most of the women here are wearing jerseys, replicating their idol—they’re here to celebrate, not engage in some sports debate. These cowards walked away, pathetic when confronted, but I’m not done. If anyone has footage of what happened, please send it my way. My husband and I have a few more words for them. Watch your daughters—predators are everywhere. #BillieEilish #Consent #InternationalWomensDay #FYP

♬ original sound - LetsGetLayered

Melanie says the other message in her TikTok was a call out to anyone who may come across any footage of the incident, or even Sloan.

"It surprised me in the responses that this seems to be common - men accosting women and girls for clicks. Parents need to know and talk to their family about it."

She adds, "I can't believe we are still raising such disrespectful men who are happy to scare people and ruin their day.

"So I won't be silenced on this."

As for feedback on the original clip and follow up videos, Melanie shares that, "It's mostly men with the negative comments. One person did comment that Sloan was too young to be at Billie Eilish."

The experience has highlighted a wider topic for the mum.

"I create content, but I always ask permission if a child is involved. I don't think these guys realised I am the mum when they saw the girls there.

Still shaken from the confrontation, Melanie finally admits, "This will stop me from going out without my husband for a long time."

Originally published as 'My 10yo was publicly harassed at Billie Eilish for what she was wearing'