Ukrainian actor, writer, and TV host Antin Mukharskyi has found himself in the spotlight after his high-profile statement about sexual harassment allegations at the Karpenko-Kary Kyiv National University of Theater, Cinema, and Television. His scandalous Facebook post sparked outrage, as he compared actors to “prostitutes” and called sexual harassment the foundation of art.
Antin Mukharsky claims that in the acting profession, the game of love, including the imitation of intimate scenes, is part of the job. In his opinion, this is why actors can be called “whores in the good sense of the word.”.
“At the theater institute, we “played” love on stage: we hugged, kissed, and even imitated sexual intercourse… We did the same in the theater, sometimes even very frankly with elderly actresses. Theater is a game, pretense, manipulation… Artists are prostitutes. But it never occurs to anyone to demand high moral virtues from prostitutes ,” Mukharsky wrote.
These words caused a flurry of indignation, as many perceived them as an excuse for harassment in a professional environment.
Mukharsky's statement that sexual harassment is an integral part of human existence and art caused even greater resonance.
“Sexual harassment is sacred. It is not only the basis of art, literature, drama, it is the basis of human existence. We are all children of someone's sexual harassment. There would be no sexual harassment, there would be no one to give a f**k about sexual harassment. Don't touch what is sacred!”
Many viewed his words as an insult to victims of harassment and an outright provocation.
The scandal, which Mukharsky indirectly addressed, arose after public accusations by teachers Andriy Bilous and Yuriy Vysotsky. Actresses Kateryna Tyshkevych, Hanna Borysiuk, Anastasia Tsymbalaru, Veronika Mishaeva-Yakovleva, and Elizaveta Zaitseva accused them of indecent behavior, sexual harassment, and assault.
The allegations have sparked widespread debate about the inadmissibility of such behavior in educational institutions. The university has not yet provided an official comment, but cases of harassment are being discussed at various levels.
Mukharsky's post sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Many users condemned his words as incorrect and provocative. People were particularly outraged by the comparison of actors to "prostitutes" and the claim that sexual harassment is "sacred.".
Despite this, Mukharsky himself did not delete his post, emphasizing that this was his position, which was based on his experience in the theater field.
