I’ve been sexually harassed online daily from a young age by pests – now I’m going to find out why, says Emily Atack
EMILY Atack is to speak out in a TV documentary about sex pests targeting her from “a very young age”.
The BBC said she will “open up about her experiences of attracting unwanted sexual attention”.
It will follow actress Emily, 32, as she tries to understand why she is sexually harassed online daily.
The hard-hitting BBC2 film will reveal the actress and comic has had to endure it from “a very young age”.
Emily said: “With this documentary, I am hoping to find answers to the many questions I’ve been asking myself my entire life, and I hope it will go on to help thousands of others too.”
In Emily Atack: Sexual Harrassment & Me, she talks to her family — including comedy star mum Kate Robbins — about her ordeal.
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She also seeks to chat to some of the men who send her explicit content and look at the psychology of their behaviour.
The BBC said she will “open up” about things that have happened in her life and her experiences of attracting unwanted sexual attention from a very young age.”
Emily has been an ardent campaigner against cyberflashing, and helped ensure it would become an official illegal offence under the Online Safety Bill.
She spoke passionately in Parliament about proposed changes.
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Emily described the forthcoming documentary as a project that is “incredibly close” to her heart”.
She said: “Over the last two and a half years I’ve been speaking out about my own personal experiences of online sexual harassment. Within that time, one thing has become clear, I’m not alone.”
An industry insider declared: “This is a massive career moment for Emily. Not only has she spearheaded an important movement, but the BBC are investing a lot in her.
“She’s taking the role very seriously and wants to do it justice, she’s revealing a lot about herself too, but knows it could help a lot of people suffering.” Emily told The Sun on Sunday in April how she had to call police over one online stalker turning up at her home.
She said at the time: “I’ve had people commenting on my body, my face, my hair, calling me fat, an untalented piece of s***, annoying, whatever, my whole life.
'It became too much'
“I’ve developed quite a thick skin. But when I started getting actual rape threats, and felt my safety was in jeopardy, it became too much. I get videos of men self-pleasuring, awful photos of things I can’t describe, every day.
“I have this one guy who constantly abuses me and every time I block him, he creates a new account.
“He’s relentless and disgusting, beyond anything you can imagine. Yet he says he’s a married man with children.”
Emily became an overnight sensation in 2008 — and a poster girl for teenage boys — playing schoolgirl Charlotte Hinchcliffe in C4 sitcom The Inbetweeners.
Four years ago she turned into a household name after finishing second on I’m A Celebrity behind Harry Redknapp.
Last month the Crown Prosecution Service published new guidance including a chapter on charges relating to public sexual abuse. It said people who were sent obscene images, have pictures taken up their skirt, are flashed in person or sexually harassed in the street should turn to the criminal justice system.
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In schools, Ofsted discovered that nearly 90 per cent of girls and 50 per cent of boys said they or a peer had been sent explicit images.
A study by dating app Bumble found 48 per cent of women aged 18 to 24 had been sent an unwanted sexual image known as a d**k pic.
AS BAD AS VIOLENCE
By Isabelle Younane Women’s Aid Policy Head
PERSISTENT online harassment is a form of psychological and emotional abuse and can be as harmful as sexual or physical violence.
It can lead to long-term mental health impacts. These were identified by the Women’s Aid Deserve To Be Heard campaign.
Women speaking as Emily has can help survivors feel hopeful support’s out there.
