Social media can be a dark place. While platforms can be a force for good, they also have the potential to damage, as actress and comedian Emily Atack has discovered. On the sharp end of continued abuse, the TV personality has now been praised by fans after she detailed the emotional turmoil she underwent after receiving unwanted sexual messages.
The Inbetweeners actress opened up about her experiences in her documentary, Emily Atack: Asking for It?, which was broadcast on BBC Two on Tuesday (January 31). Fans were sickened after hearing her describe some of the harrowing messages and photos she had received from a string of men online.
Emily explained that she is regularly bombarded with sexually explicit images and videos as well as messages on Instagram from men she doesn't know. She said: "My whole life, I've been sexually harassed.
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"In the streets, I've been flashed. It's happened since I was 10.
"Now I'm sexually harassed online every day. I find it really tough."
She added: "I did the documentary to talk about the implications. There's no accountability."
In her new documentary, the Mirror said she revealed that in the past that she was "very damaged" by what has happened and is constantly blamed for the messages. Viewers tuning into the documentary praised Emily's bravery for speaking out on the topic.
Emily revealed: "I'm very damaged by the things that have happened to me. I’m constantly being blamed for it all.
"I'm a very sexually liberated woman, I talk about my life in that way. I'm constantly told I'm to blame."
During the documentary, she spoke to various people including her mum and dad. Her mum got emotional as she heard what her daughter had been subjected to, while Emily also spoke to the police about her experiences.
At the end of the programme, she said the problem is with the person sending the messages and not herself, adding: "I'm not asking for it. It is your fault.
"I'm not going to change what I'm doing because I get sexually harassed. It's not our behaviour that has to change."
Showing the more supportive side of social media, fans shared their thoughts on the programme. One said: "It's disgusting what Emily Atack has to endure online every day. Good on her for speaking out about it #EmilyAtack." Another added: "What an incredibly strong, brave and eloquent woman Emily Atack is. No one should have to put up with this disgusting behaviour."
Someone else said: "Cried my eyes out watching Emily Atack on just now. Why should any woman go through what she went through. It's disgusting. Something needs doing by social media platforms and the Government. Very brave of @EmAtack to talk about this - you can see it's very raw."
The comments continued: "Watching #EmilyAtack documentary. Feel sick that she has had to put up with that s**t. Even at the bottom of the #standupcomedy ladder that s**t is rife," one wrote. Another added: "Emily receives this daily. It's disgusting but needs to be addressed. @EmAtack and no woman should receive this."
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