Sri Lankan man arrested after exposing himself to influencer: ‘Reality of solo travel as a woman’
Molly said she decided to share the video to show the “reality of solo travel as a woman” to her audience. Instagram/molsgonewild
A New Zealand woman has spoken out after a frightening encounter during her solo trip to Sri Lanka went viral.
Molly, who shares her travels under the handle molsgonewild, recounted the moment a local man approached her and exposed himself during her tuk-tuk journey.
“I debated sharing this – but this is the reality of solo travel as a woman,” Molly wrote on Instagram. “During my solo road trip across Sri Lanka, a man asked for sex and exposed himself to me. It was one of those moments that shakes you, even when you think you’re prepared for anything.”
In a clip shared online hundreds of times, Molly is seen sitting in her vehicle as the man approaches. He asks, “Have sex?” to which she replies, “Definitely not, no,” trying to remain polite.
Speaking to news.com.au, Molly said she was initially in shock and struggled to process the situation. “He approached me and seemed nice, just like every other Sri Lankan I had met … I didn’t expect anything like that to happen,” she said.
Molly emphasized that harassment is not limited to foreign countries. “I’ve been sexually harassed in New Zealand,” she said. “It can happen at home or anywhere you go.”
The experience has prompted Molly to discuss the precautions she takes as a solo female traveler. “I exercise extra caution. I always carry a pocket knife and stay very aware of my surroundings,” she said. “Unfortunately, this is the reality for women. Even though many men are nice, there’s always that thought in the back of your head: does he want something else from me?”
In a follow-up video, Molly addressed the backlash her post received, including victim-blaming comments. “Women should be able to travel alone. We are not the problem,” she said.
After leaving Sri Lanka, Molly reported the incident to the Tourism Police Department. She said the authorities responded quickly: the man was located within two days and arrested within five. He now faces court.
Despite the terrifying encounter, Molly maintains that it does not reflect the broader experience of solo travel. “I’ve been to many countries labeled as unsafe, and most of the time I’ve experienced kindness from locals,” she said.
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