In Antwerp’s criminal court, a man was cleared of rape allegations from a woman he met on Tinder. The incident goes back to November 9, 2018, when the man, using someone else’s photos, misled the woman into thinking she was talking to a different person. When they met at his shop, she was told to blindfold herself after locking the door. Post-sex, she removed her blindfold to discover a different man from the profile. The woman accused him of rape.
The incident dates back to the evening of 9 November 2018. The man had used another individual’s photographs on his profile, leading the woman to believe she was conversing with a muscular, bearded man from southern Europe.
When the man and woman subsequently met at the man’s shop in Antwerp, the woman was instructed through prior messaging to lock the front door and blindfold herself.
After having sexual intercourse, she removed her blindfold to find a man who did not match the Tinder profile’s photographs. The woman, feeling deceived, accused him of rape.
The prosecutors also argued that the man had used a ruse, thereby preventing the woman from giving valid consent. They sought a two-year prison sentence.
In a courtroom drama that could rival any Hollywood movie, the defense cleverly contended that there was no deceit at play. They painted a picture of a man who simply presented himself in a better light than he truly was. Moreover, they boldly declared that consent cannot be taken back retroactively, skillfully seeking acquittal for their client. In a surprising turn of events, the court agreed that there was indeed no deception, ultimately exonerating the man.
The defence argued that no deceit was used. The man had merely portrayed himself more attractively than reality. His lawyer further argued that consent cannot be rescinded retroactively and thus asked for acquittal. The court concurred there was no deception involved and acquitted the man.