Ruud de Wild Opens Up About the Profound Impact of Pim Fortuyn’s Murder

Dutch radio personality Ruud de Wild has revealed the lasting trauma he experienced following the 2002 assassination of politician Pim Fortuyn, a pivotal moment he witnessed firsthand. The emotional toll of the event, he says, contributed to the end of his marriage to Tatum Dagelet.

Witness to a Shocking Event

On May 6, 2002, Ruud de Wild was hosting his radio program, Ruuddewild.nl, when Pim Fortuyn was fatally shot by Volkert van der Graaf at the Mediapark in Hilversum . De Wild described the scene as “so sad,” recalling seeing Fortuyn “bleeding to death in the most uncharming way” .

The Immediate Aftermath and Lasting Trauma

De Wild expressed feeling “very strange” about returning to work the day after the murder, a sentiment he shared in a 2002 interview that resurfaced during a recent appearance on the SBS6 program Het Waren 2 Fantastische Dagen . He recounted that the shooter continued firing even as Fortuyn collapsed and died .

Impact on Personal Life: The End of a Marriage

The trauma of witnessing Fortuyn’s murder had a significant impact on De Wild’s personal life. “It cost me my marriage,” he admitted during the program, referring to his relationship with Tatum Dagelet, whom he married in 2000 and with whom he shares a daughter . He described feeling “really crazy” in the aftermath, to the point where he would sit for hours struggling with basic tasks . Dagelet encouraged him to seek professional help, but the couple separated in 2004 .

Additional Revelations

During the same appearance on Het Waren 2 Fantastische Dagen, De Wild also disclosed that he was previously involved with a cult .

Het Waren 2 Fantastische Dagen airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. On SBS6.