Emily Atack Is Sick Of ‘Sexually Aggressive’ Behaviour, & I Don’t Blame Her

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Emily Atack has had to address the “sexually aggressive” messages she receives online – again.

The actor’s most recent role in Rivals – based on the Jilly Cooper novel of the same name – has been criticised, or more accurately, led to her being abused on social media, her integrity questioned, and her DMs flooded with horrific content.

All because she has a nude scene.

Speaking to The Times, Emily said: “I knew something like that would happen, just not this quickly.

“I’m at work, I’m playing a part, that scene is integral to the book. I am exactly where I need to be.

“I can’t control people’s sexually aggressive behaviour, but I can continue with my campaigning and fighting for women’s freedom.”

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This isn’t the first time that Emily has experienced such comments. Following her appearance on I’m A Celeb, the actor and comedian began receiving a tirade of abuse on social media, ranging from threats of sexual assault to deeply misogynist commentary.

“It has made me question my entire existence at times, and how men see me,” she said back in 2022, following years of such messages.

Emily’s new role in Rivals required her to shoot nude scenes. Such is the mood of the show – sex, drama, betrayal, and the battle for control.

It’s been getting rave reviews since landing on Disney+ last month, and naturally, most viewers aren’t at all concerned with Emily’s nudity. She’s playing a character, and she’s good at it.

Others, however, have criticised the actor’s decision to take the role, claiming that she is somehow provoking the men (and sometimes women) who abuse her online.

 

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“I should be able to do a scene like this and not receive negative attention,” she went on.  “The two should not go hand in hand.”

“A woman said to me on Instagram the other day, ‘Pick a lane. You can’t play a racy role like that and get your clothes off and expect not to get messages. Why would you take that role?’”

“I wanted to say to her, ‘Are you telling me essentially to quit my job?’ Why should I?’ Women have to change their clothes; we have to change our routes home. I’m a professional. I’m never going to please everybody.”

This new torrent of messages comes after the release of Emily’s BBC documentary, Asking For It..?

In the show, the actor considers the hundreds of messages she receives every day. Unsolicited sexual imagary, rape threats, messages of hate and vitriol, all before she has even woken up in the morning.

The documentary wasn’t just created to raise awareness, but also to push for legislation to protect women from cyberflashing in the UK (the act has since become a criminal offence).

The notion that Atack is asking for these messages to be sent to her is not a new one, but it is contradictory.

After all, nudity on screen is not a new phenomenon. Playing sexually liberated characters is not a crime. Criticising abhorrent messages and playing “racy roles” are not mutually exclusive.

And women should not be targeted because they choose to speak out either.

• Emily Atack