Man charged with harassment after kissing reporter on air

The man who kissed a Louisville reporter during a live broadcast has been identified by police and charged with harassment with physical contact.

On Friday, WAVE 3's Sara Rivest was reporting live outside the Kentucky Exposition Center during the Bourbon & Beyond music festival when a man pretended to spank her from behind and then jumped in the frame to kiss her on the cheek. The reporter shared the incident on social media and appeared on the station's Monday night broadcast to speak out about the incident.

Louisville Metro Police officials have identified the man as Eric Goodman, 42, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office confirmed to Yahoo Lifestyle that Goodman faces a charge of harassment with physical contact, a Class B misdemeanor. In Kentucky, a Class B misdemeanor is punishable up to 90 days in jail and a maximum fine of $250.

Goodman is set to appear in court on Nov. 6.

Rivest shared on Twitter that Goodman has written her an apology letter, which she will read on the air at 6 p.m. local time.

"I felt like a prop, used for a joke," Rivest told Yahoo Lifestyle. "I think this whole thing shows how little some people understand about boundaries. I’m glad I spoke up and I hope by putting this out there and expressing how it made me feel, those who think it’s funny won’t anymore and we can start a conversation about what’s acceptable and what isn’t."

"I hope he ... knows that I’m so willing to forgive," Rivest said. "I hope we can all grow from this."

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