Actor and presenter Emily Atack bravely spoke about her experiences of online sexual harassment on the Fearne Cotton podcast Happy Place - but after opening up about the matter both she and Fearne were sent indecent and "terrifying" messages.
Fearne took to her Instagram and said these messages and inappropriate pictures were "disturbing" and that she feels "sick" and "full of rage but also terrified" after receiving them. She said: "This week on @happyplaceofficial the podcast I talk to @emilyatack about online sexual harassment. Emily posted yesterday that moments after the episode went live she received an influx of messages and explicit photos from men that were incredibly disturbing."
The 41-year-old added that she had also received one adding: "I find it very challenging to hear these stories as I feel sick about it, full of rage but also terrified. I'm glad Emily is exploring this all too common transgression."
Alongside the podcast, Emily has also explored the issue of online sexual abuse in a new emotional BBC Two documentary called Asking For It? which will air on BBC Two and iPlayer on Tuesday, January 31 at 9pm. You can keep up to date with the latest TV and showbiz news by signing up to the newsletter here.
In the deeply personal documentary, Emily opens up her life, and her social media DMs, to the public as she attempts to understand why she - and so many others - are sexually harassed online on a daily basis and what can be done to stop this.
For the first time, Emily delves deep into her own story, unpicking things that have happened to her as a result of attracting unwanted sexual attention from a young age. She admits that throughout her life she has felt blamed for this negative attention and has been repeatedly told, ‘but you’re asking for it'.
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