A notorious pick-up-artist seminar that encourages the harassment of women was picketed by protesters in Melbourne on Thursday, culminating with the group behind the seminar being kicked off the boat where the event was held.
The pick-up artist Julien Blanc arrived in Australia last week for a series of public seminars teaching manipulative and degrading techniques under the model marketed by the group, Real Social Dynamics.
The online campaign #TakeDownJulienBlanc quickly gathered steam and several hotels and businesses cancelled bookings, forcing Blanc to stage alternate events.
On Thursday night, Blanc did not show at an event on a boat on the Yarra River and instead sent another Real Social Dynamics employee, "Maximilian", to hold the seminar.
Video posted by Support Rsd shows tense confrontations on the water's edge before the seminar. One woman appears to slap Maximilian. BuzzFeed News understands the woman was responding to a situation that was not filmed in which she was pushed and shoved.
Journalist Asher Wolf told BuzzFeed News the men eventually got on to the boat as protesters chanted and tried to board the vessel. "It was intense and surreal," Wolf said.
walk the walk of shame for associating with men who advocate sexual assault. #TakeDownJulienBlanc
Police arrived and kept protestors from boarding the vessel. Despite criticism that the officers were protecting men who advocate abuse towards women, "the police did their job," Wolf said.
Standoff here at #takedownjulienblanc. He's still running seminar but they're being kicked off the boat @theheraldsun
Eventually the boat operators and police came to an agreement to get the group off the boat, and they streamed past the protesters.
Herald Sun journalist Tom Minear spoke to Maximilian, who said it was "sad" the seminar had been shut down.
.@RSDMaximilian said it was "sad" his seminar on "how to be a very assertive man" was shut down by protesters #takedownjulienblanc
There was an explosion of praise online, where the #TakeDownJulienBlanc campaign had started.
Oh @JennLi123 what have we done. This is extraordinary #takedownjulienblanc
i don’t need femisns why do you want to #TakeDownJulienBlanc when you could go OUT with him? He’s an EXPERT! at choking & mistreating women.
Damn fine job by all those in the streets and on the banks to #takedownjulienblanc. If I was Bob Hawke, you'd all have tomorrow off work.
Can we put @ScottMorrisonMP to use for the forces of good? DIBP won't look kindly on rape advocates with business visas #takedownjulienblanc
If women organise a protest against your pick-up seminar, it a pretty clear sign you're doing it wrong... #takedownjulienblanc
The #takedownjulienblanc hashtag tonight is a thing of beauty.
I don't just want @RSDJulien and @RSDMaximilian denied venues...I want them denied accommodation. Flights. Service. #takedownjulienblanc
The Bayview on the Park hotel also cancelled the booking Blanc made to stay there, writing on its Facebook page: "Bayview on the Park does not condone assault and abuse of women."
UPDATE 1830AEST: Immigration Minister Scott Morrison intervened in the case and deported Julien Blanc.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he cancelled the visa of controversial "pick up artist" Julian Blanc #auspol @ABCNews24
"This guy wasn't pushing forward political ideas, he was putting a view that was derogatory to women and that's just something that our values abhor in this country," Mr Morrison told Sky News.
The case has broken new ground for authorities.
We can confirm that Julien Blanc left Australia overnight. His assistant is also due to leave shortly.
"Labelling women as objects and actively promoting the abuse of women degrades the dignity of our whole community," Victorian Police Commissioner Ken Lay wrote in a statement posted online.
"We want to assure everyone that we have been paying close attention to this issue and appreciate that so many community members have expressed concern."