Naga Munchetty reveals she was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy who she then punched in the face

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Naga Munchetty has shared that she physically assaulted a teenage boy who sexually harassed her while she was on a train.

The BBC Breakfast presenter felt uncomfortable when a group of teenage boys, around 15 or 16 years old, stood close to the train door as she was trying to get off.

Naga, a bit older than the group, felt someone pinch her as she was getting up to leave. Startled, she immediately punched one of the teenagers.

Naga Munchetty, 50, told the Daily Mail that she encountered two teenage boys, likely around 15 or 16 years old, near the exit as she was leaving.

They touched me inappropriately, grabbing and pinching my rear. I reacted by turning around and hitting one of them, and I yelled at them.

The speaker admitted her initial response might not have been the best one, and she was worried about the potential consequences if she hadn’t gotten off the train.

Naga, who is now 50, added: ‘I’m not saying that was right, but it was an instant reaction’

Immediately after, I became afraid. I was a young woman, only a few years older than the others, and I worried about what the future held.

I was relieved that my news surprised them, and I felt a little better as I left.

Honestly, looking back, I’m so glad I got off that train. If I’d stayed, I really don’t think I would have handled a confrontation with those people – it just wouldn’t have been a good situation for me.

She made these statements after the presenter faced an internal review following accusations of bullying a coworker.

Executives reportedly spoke with journalist Naga Munchetty after a junior colleague accused her of bullying. She hasn’t publicly responded to the claim.

A BBC representative stated that they don’t discuss specific complaints, but they thoroughly investigate all workplace conduct concerns and won’t accept behavior that goes against their principles.

We have strong procedures to handle issues, and we want our staff to feel comfortable bringing any concerns to us so we can resolve them quickly.

Naga was reportedly called into a meeting after making a sexually suggestive comment during a break in her radio program.

Sources say she used a vulgar term for a sexual act and allegedly asked a coworker if they had ever engaged in it.

Reports also surfaced that Naga Munchetty was considering leaving BBC Breakfast following accusations of bullying against her.

The BBC reported earlier this year that the presenter received a £10,000 raise to her yearly salary.

Her pay packet rose to an eye-watering £355,000 – almost double that of her co-host Charlie Stayt.

Charlie, age 63, is still earning around £190,000 a year, and sources say there’s a lot of conflict between him and someone else.

Naga Munchetty presents BBC Breakfast alongside Charlie Stayt from Thursday to Saturday. Jon Kay and Sally Nugent host the show Monday through Wednesday.

The BBC has been contacted for further comment.

I was really moved by Naga Munchetty’s recent honesty. She shared that she hesitated to talk about her ongoing health issues while working at the BBC, because she worried it would make her seem vulnerable or ‘weak’. It’s so brave of her to speak out, and it highlights how much pressure there can be to maintain a certain image, even when you’re dealing with something difficult personally.

For 32 years, the woman suffered from debilitating symptoms – heavy, painful bleeding, vomiting, fainting, and severe aches – which occurred every two and a half weeks. It wasn’t until 2022 that a private doctor finally diagnosed her with Adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis happens when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus itself. It’s fairly common, affecting about 1 in 10 women, according to the National Health Service (NHS).

Naga Munchetty shared at a women’s health discussion that she declined a recommended hysterectomy – the only way to resolve her health issue – because she couldn’t afford to take six weeks off from her job.

She feared that she would not be ‘up to scratch’ after a lengthy period off the air.

Naga explained that the BBC’s highly competitive environment made it hard for her to talk about her health issues.

While she’s legally entitled to support if she has a health issue, she also feels pressure at work. As a journalist in a tough field, she’s worried about appearing vulnerable.

Before receiving her diagnosis, Munchetty had a sterilization procedure in 2019 hoping to relieve her symptoms. This followed a painful experience in 2017 when a contraceptive coil was fitted, causing her severe pain.

Female sterilization is a permanent birth control method. It involves a minimally invasive surgery to block or cut the fallopian tubes, preventing eggs from being fertilized by sperm.

She had previously explained that choosing the procedure was easy because she and her husband, James Haggar, 52, had already decided they didn’t want to have children.

Speaking at the festival, Munchetty admitted that dealing with a long-term health issue while working in a competitive field is challenging.

Speaking to The Telegraph, she admitted she wasn’t sure how to help employers improve, saying she didn’t believe they fully understood the issue.

People kept telling me having a baby would fix everything, as if it’s a cure-all. Honestly, that felt more damaging than anything else, and it’s not something I wanted.

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2025-10-16 14:37