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'IT'LL FUEL ABUSE'
Vicky Pattison’s deepfake sex tape stunt for C4 documentary slammed as ‘deeply disrespectful’ by abuse victim
Vicky defended the decision to appear in a stunt
A PORN abuse victim has slammed Vicky Pattison’s deepfake sex tape “PR stunt” as “deeply disrespectful".
The I’m A Celebrity winner leaked her own digitally-altered adult clip as part of research for a new Channel 4 documentary into image abuse.
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She said she “wrestled with the decision” over the move, on which she consulted with experts, but hoped it would add immersive depth to the piece and help victims.
But a deepfake image abuse survivor called Jodie has hit out at Vicky and claimed that campaign groups warned against the idea.
Jodie said: “As a survivor of synthetic intimate image abuse, I feel deeply offended, let down, and disappointed by Channel 4’s decision to create and distribute a ‘deepfake’ video of Vicky Pattison for her upcoming documentary.
“Survivor organisations, including those I work with, strongly advised against this approach, warning it could compromise her safety, increase traffic to the very websites profiting from non-consensual abuse, and undermine the fight for survivor-centred legislation.
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“We have been campaigning tirelessly for a consent-based law to criminalise deepfake abuse, but this PR stunt fuels harmful narratives.
“It adds to the low number of women who have consensually deepfaked themselves, potentially casting doubt on survivors’ claims and shifting the focus away from the real issue: men weaponising this technology to abuse, humiliate, and control women.
“It is also deeply disrespectful to real survivors - women who have experienced the trauma of discovering their bodies have been digitally violated by people they trusted, such as partners, friends, family members, or colleagues.
“For those who endure the torture of finding their images have been altered into sexually explicit situations without consent, it is sexual abuse.
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“While Vicky’s intentions may have been to raise awareness, this decision by Channel 4 feels like a betrayal to survivors like me who have fought tirelessly for recognition, dignity, and justice.”
The former Geordie Shore star launched the new documentary, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape, by leaking her own augmented clip on Twitter over the weekend.
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It appeared to show Vicky engaged in a sex act first wearing a bra and then later, topless.
The newly-married star, 37, explained why she had undertaken the shocking task.
She said: “I am hugely passionate about women’s issues, and have found myself increasingly disturbed by how prevalent the problem of deepfake porn is becoming.
“As part of the documentary, I have made the challenging decision to release my own deepfake sex tape online, which I directed and produced with actors to ensure the process was fully consensual from start to finish.
“I wrestled with this decision for a long time, mulling over the permanence of it, and ultimately coming to accept the fact that this content may live online forever.
“Whilst I know this doesn’t compare to the distress and horror actual victims feel when they discover this content of themselves, I hope it will give some insight into what they go through.”
As well as exploring the issue through her own experience, Vicky will meet Cara Hunter, a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland, who was victim of image-based abuse in 2022, and Channel 4 News presenter, Cathy Newman, who discovered she was also a victim of deepfake porn last year.
Vicky will also meet and speak to women not in the public eye, who have found themselves subject to image-based abuse.
Deepfake porn involves using technology to create a fake explicit tape and has increasingly become a method of sexual abuse.
A Channel 4 News investigation from 2024 found that nearly 4,000 celebrities have been victims of deepfake pornography.
The Government recently announced plans to criminalise the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes.
Vicky added: “I want this documentary to bring attention to the imbalance of power and encourage society, lawmakers, and tech companies to provide stronger protections and support for those who are affected.
“My goal is to foster empathy and drive action and to contribute to a larger movement for justice and change, so victims feel supported, understood, and empowered to reclaim their voices and control.”
Vicky's fans also applauded her bravery when she announced the project online.
One wrote: "She does it again, breaking boundaries. Proud of you Vicky, a phenomenal human."
Another added: "The lengths you go to support women across the board in so many different aspects really is amazing."
A third woman wrote: "Thank you for doing this Vicky. We need more awareness and action."
A spokesperson told The sun: “This documentary hears directly from survivors of image-based abuse, to ensure that their stories are an important focus of the programme.
“The reality of deepfake abuse is an alarming and growing one, and this documentary, and the creation of Vicky’s consensual deepfake video, aims to tackle this issue.
“This comes at a crucial time when it is at the forefront of national conversation and the government is currently looking at legislation to address the deliberate exploitation of women online.
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“Channel 4 has a long history of complex and challenging programming, and has a remit to explore difficult topics.”
The documentary will air on Channel 4 at January 28 at 10pm.
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