Jonatan Medart has shared footage of an alleged homophobic confrontation in Ghent, prompting fresh discussion about LGBTQ+ safety, public harassment and why “jokes” can feel threatening in real life.
Essential Takeaways
- The incident: Medart says he and his boyfriend were verbally harassed after leaving an awards event in Ghent.
- The footage: Video appears to show young people shouting homophobic abuse in the street.
- The impact: Medart described feeling trapped, uncomfortable and unsafe during the confrontation.
- The wider message: He says remarks dismissed as humour can carry a very different meaning for LGBTQ+ people.
- A troubling warning: Medart alleges one person told him he could face consequences if he posted the video online.
A night out in Ghent turned deeply uncomfortable
What began as an ordinary evening in Ghent ended with a confrontation that Medart says left him shaken. After attending the De Wijste Gentenaar awards, the influencer went into the city with his boyfriend, Seppe, where a group allegedly shouted homophobic insults at them.
The footage shared on social media captures the tense exchange and Medart's immediate reaction. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, he said he hadn't previously experienced homophobic abuse that felt so intense in person.
That detail matters. Online hostility can be switched off, blocked or reported, but abuse shouted across a pavement has a physical presence. It follows you for the length of the street, with nowhere obvious to hide.
Why “just a joke” doesn't feel harmless
Medart's central point was simple but powerful: comments that sound funny to the people making them can make their target feel exposed and vulnerable. He said the remarks included vulgar comments about his sexuality and that the situation felt particularly uncomfortable because he was simply walking through the city.
For many LGBTQ+ people, this is the familiar gap between intent and impact. A group may insist it was banter, yet the person on the receiving end still has to assess whether the abuse could become a threat. That calculation can turn a routine trip home into an exhausting exercise in caution.
The incident also shows why public homophobia isn't only about the loudest insult. The surrounding laughter, group behaviour and implied threat can make a situation feel much more dangerous than a single word suggests.
Medart chose to publish the footage
Medart says one of the people involved warned him not to upload the video, allegedly suggesting that he would “face something” if he did. He responded by sharing it anyway, saying he wasn't afraid.
That decision has made the footage part of a wider conversation about visibility and accountability. Publishing images can help document what happened, but it can also expose the person sharing them to further abuse. It isn't a choice victims should have to make simply to be taken seriously.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Medart's post has drawn attention because it presents the encounter as something immediate and personal, rather than an abstract debate about tolerance. Viewers can see the discomfort unfold, even if a short clip can't capture everything that happened before or after it.
What should bystanders do during homophobic abuse?
The safest response isn't always to confront the group directly. If someone appears at risk, bystanders can move closer without escalating matters, ask whether they want help, accompany them to a bus stop or shop, and contact emergency services if there is an immediate threat.
A calm check-in can be surprisingly effective. “Are you all right?” or “Would you like me to stay with you?” gives the targeted person control without making assumptions. Staff in nearby venues may also be able to offer a safer space while the situation settles.
For anyone recording an incident, safety comes first. Keep a reasonable distance, avoid provoking the people involved and preserve the original footage if it may be needed later. No video is worth turning a verbal confrontation into a physical one.
The bigger question for LGBTQ+ safety in cities
Ghent has a reputation for being open and welcoming, which is why Medart's reaction was particularly pointed. A progressive image doesn't mean prejudice has disappeared from streets, nightlife or public transport. In fact, incidents like this can be a reminder that inclusion needs to be lived, not simply advertised.
Medart's experience has prompted a human response because it strips away the easy language of “banter”. Behind every casual slur is a person deciding whether to keep walking, answer back, seek help or pretend it didn't hurt.
The hope is that sharing the footage encourages more people to recognise the warning signs and intervene safely. Feeling free to walk through your own city should not be treated as a special privilege.
It's a small but important reminder that public safety begins with taking abuse seriously.
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