Emily Atack reveals uptick in online rape threats since she became single
Emily Atack has claimed she has been increasingly targeted by vicious online trolls since she became single.
The actress and comedian, 31, has opened up about the impact that receiving abuse – including rape threats – over social media has had on her mental health.
She told The Sunday Times how she had noticed an upsurge in abuse following the end of a recent relationship – and that much of it came from men with daughters.
Atack said: "I am a woman on my own and I’m in my thirties, and it’s a trigger point because you receive messages like that.
"I can’t help but wonder, if I was in a secure marriage or whatever, whether it would still happen to me."
Atack, who is currently starring in a new series of The Emily Atack Show on ITV2, first rose to prominence after appearing in The Inbetweeners from 2008 to 2010.
The star revealed that – for almost a decade – she has received messages attacking her appearance and personality, as well as having men describe how they would rape her and share videos of them masturbating over images of her.
She said: "Some of these men are married with children. They’ve got daughters in their profile pictures and things like that.
"How can you sleep at night knowing you’ve just tucked your daughters into bed, probably helped them with their homework, and then you’re sneakily going onto your phone [and sending that sort of message]?"
Atack, who has 1.7 million followers on Instagram, said the abuse had left her feeling anxious, depressed and fearing for her life.
Earlier this year, the former I'm A Celebrity runner-up told Women's Health about the "tricky" relationship she has with social media.
She said: "The online world is a double-edged sword. My DMs should be a safe space, but everyone's allowed to say what they like.
"Social media is a huge part of my job and I love reaching out to fans and get so much support back – I have every right to that relationship."
Watch: Celebrities reveal their mental health struggles
