Video of child ‘forced’ to have ears pierced goes viral with viewers left ‘raging’ and ‘physically sick’

Parents have voiced concern over a viral video showing a girl in Sheffield being ‘forced’ to have her ears pierced, and police are now looking into the matter
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Viewers of a video which shows a young girl struggling against having her ears pierced say they have been left “raging” and “physically sick” by the distressing scene.

The clip, which was uploaded over the weekend by a mum to her personal Facebook page, appears to show a little girl struggling against having her ears pierced.

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Two adult women sitting on the floor at the Lovisa jewellery shop in Meadowhall, Sheffield, both hold the child still and try to comfort her as a member of staff pierces her ears. Another member of staff watches on.

A video showing a little girl being 'forced' to have her ears pierced at Lovisa in Meadowhall has gone viralA video showing a little girl being 'forced' to have her ears pierced at Lovisa in Meadowhall has gone viral
A video showing a little girl being 'forced' to have her ears pierced at Lovisa in Meadowhall has gone viral

The girl shrieks and says “no no no” multiple times during the 30-second video.

Now, South Yorkshire Police’s team based at Meadowhall say they are now carrying out enquiries to “understand the full circumstances” of the clip.

Police ‘understand’ why viewers find video ‘concerning’

PC Craig Crew of the Meadowhall policing team said: “We have watched this footage and understand why many viewers find it concerning. My team and I are now carrying out enquiries with the staff at the store to understand the full circumstances of what happened.

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“I am really keen to trace the owner of the footage, so if this is you, or you know who it is, please get in touch.”

SYP is asking anyone who can help with enquiries to call 101 quoting incident number 1009 of October 18 or contact the force through its online portal.

The clip, which has been widely viewed and circulated, has been met with anger by viewers who were concerned by the upset girl’s protests. One parent wrote she felt “physically sick” while watching.

A debate is raging on Facebook and in messages to Lovisa on Twitter about children’s consent and whether it was right for the procedure to have been carried out.

A video of a little girl having her ears pierced at Lovisa in Meadowhall, Sheffield, has gone viralA video of a little girl having her ears pierced at Lovisa in Meadowhall, Sheffield, has gone viral
A video of a little girl having her ears pierced at Lovisa in Meadowhall, Sheffield, has gone viral

Lovisa has been contacted for a comment.

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The scene was caught on camera by a teenage girl who was shopping at Meadowhall on Sunday, October 17. She showed it to her mum, Lisha Stephanie, who then uploaded it to her personal Facebook page.

She claims the clip filmed by her daughter was “just a fraction” of the incident, which lasted for around 10 minutes.

“They wrestled her down to the floor from the chair and held her down while she begged and pleaded with them not to do it,” said Lisha.

“The child was petrified. There was an audience outside and inside the shop.”

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Another mum wrote: “I don't think plastering her all over Facebook, Twitter and where ever else is the way to deal with things like this. It could have been dealt with more privately in my opinion.

“However [...] I do believe the mum should have took control of the situation and told them to stop.”

A 55-year-old Rotherham man who watched the video said: “You can plainly hear the child screaming for them to stop, saying it hurts and get off. I am so upset over this I am actually raging.”

This story originally appeared on our sister title, The Star

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