A video of a Singapore content creator confronting a man she accused of secretly photographing her during a pickleball game has gone viral. This reignites a conversation about harassment on public sports courts.
Content creator Kasey Avarielle Low, 28, said she was playing pickleball with friends at a public court in Singapore's northeast on July 18 when one of her friends noticed a man positioned in a corner. According to reports, he was holding his phone vertically and appearing to zoom in on her while she played. A male friend approached the man mid-game to ask if he had been filming, which the man denied.
When the game ended, Low decided to confront the man herself rather than let the matter go. In the video she posted to Instagram, she is seen asking to look through his phone. His visible photo gallery contained nothing unusual, but Low also asked to check his recently deleted folder. There, she said she found three rows of zoomed-in photos focused on her running shorts and rear, which she deleted from the device on the spot.
The man reportedly offered a string of shifting explanations. First, he denied any photos, then claimed the angle only made it look that way. He then explained he had simply been filming the game because it looked interesting. Low pushed back, pointing out that the images were clearly zoomed in on her rather than on the match. He eventually left the area after her boyfriend walked over.
Low told local outlets that this was not the first time she had experienced this kind of harassment, but that previous instances had left her too stunned to react. She said she chose to speak up this time to encourage other women who stay quiet out of fear or reluctance to cause a scene.
According to Low:
"Being in public doesn't mean you consent to being secretly photographed in a way that violates your dignity."
She also pushed back against comments suggesting her choice of clothing invited the attention, noting that she has been harassed even while dressed in long pants and long sleeves. Reaction online has largely been supportive, with many commenters praising her composure. Some pointed out that a police report, rather than a deleted photo folder, would have created an actual paper trail against the man.
That distinction matters. Under Singapore's Penal Code, taking or recording images of a person's private areas, which includes the buttocks whether covered or exposed, without consent counts as voyeurism and carries criminal penalties. Deleting the photos on the spot may have stopped the immediate violation, but it also removed the evidence that could have supported a formal complaint.
Why is this Happening in Pickleball Courts
Pickleball's rapid growth across Singapore and the wider region has brought more players, and more spectators, onto courts that are often open, unfenced, and easy to observe from any angle. The sport's social format, with games clustered close together and players frequently switching partners between sessions, means people are constantly playing in proximity to strangers. That openness is part of what makes the sport welcoming, but it also means courts can attract the kind of unwanted attention Low described.
Good court etiquette has always been about more than just following the rules of play. Our guide to pickleball court etiquette covers the basics of sharing courts respectfully, but the same principle extends to how players treat each other off the scoreline. Respecting personal space and boundaries, not filming other players without asking, and speaking up when something looks off are all part of being a decent presence on a public court.
For women in particular, the sport's growth should be accompanied by greater seriousness with which clubs, court operators, and fellow players take their safety. Court operators and community organisers also have a role to play. This can mean clearer signage about photography etiquette or simply having someone on hand who takes reports seriously when players raise concerns.
Low's decision to confront the man publicly and share her experience has clearly struck a nerve, and the response suggests plenty of players, especially women, have similar stories they have not felt comfortable telling. Speaking up, even imperfectly, is still better than silence.
Looking for courts where you can play with peace of mind? Browse verified venues at courts.thepicklebase.com, and follow @thepicklebase on Instagram for more community stories and updates from the region's pickleball scene.