In a profoundly moving and courageous new BBC documentary, actress and television personality Emily Atack lays bare the horrific reality of the relentless sexual abuse and online harassment she has endured since finding fame.
The 35-year-old star, known for her role in The Inbetweeners and as runner-up on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, reveals the shocking extent of the predatory behaviour she faces on a daily basis, describing it as a 'part of her job' as a woman in the public eye.
A Life Under Siege
Atack's documentary, Emily Atack: Sexual Abuse and Me, details the torrent of explicit and threatening messages she receives. She discloses receiving up to 200 sexually violent messages per day, a constant barrage that has severely impacted her mental health and sense of safety.
She also shares traumatic experiences of being physically assaulted in public, including one incident where a man groped her in a pub and another where a stranger followed her onto a train, pressed against her, and whispered obscenities in her ear.
Fighting Back and Calling for Change
Far from just sharing her story, Atack is using her platform to campaign for change. The documentary follows her as she meets with politicians and lawmakers to push for stricter legislation against online abuse, particularly concerning cyberflashing and revenge porn.
She argues that current laws are insufficient to protect women and calls for a specific new law to make cyberflashing a criminal offence, a move she believes is crucial for creating a safer digital environment.
The Emotional Toll
The emotional weight of her experiences is palpable throughout the documentary. Atack bravely discusses the anxiety, fear, and vulnerability she constantly lives with, challenging the notion that such abuse is simply a price of fame.
Her powerful testimony aims to shatter the stigma and silence surrounding sexual harassment, encouraging other victims to speak out and seek help.
