In a strikingly honest and brave new interview, beloved British actress and television presenter Emily Atack has laid bare the devastating toll that relentless online trolling has taken on her mental wellbeing.
The 34-year-old star, famed for her roles in The Inbetweeners and her own ITV Be show Emily Atack: Asking For It?, confessed to feeling like she was 'drowning' under the weight of the abuse, which she describes as 'brutal' and incessant.
'The Comments Were Relentless'
Atack revealed that the torrent of hateful comments and messages became so severe that it began to severely impact her day-to-day life. The abuse often centres on her appearance and her decision to speak openly about her sexuality and experiences.
'I was being bombarded from every angle,' she shared. 'It chips away at you, day after day. You put on a brave face for the public, but behind the screen, it's a different story.'
A Plea for Change and Greater Protection
Moving beyond her personal story, Atack has used her platform to call for more robust action against online abuse. She highlighted the feeling of helplessness that comes with reporting harmful content, only to see little done about it.
'The system is failing people,' she stated emphatically. 'We need stronger regulations and real consequences for those who think it's acceptable to hide behind a keyboard and destroy someone's mental health.'
Her powerful testimony has sparked a fresh conversation about the very real human cost of cyberbullying and the urgent need for social media platforms to take greater responsibility for protecting their users.
