31 January 2023 , 12:10
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Emily Atack was left in tears as she detailed the horrific sexually explicit messages she has received on social media, during an appearance on This Morning on Tuesday morning.
The actress and comedian appeared in the ITV studio with co-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield ahead of a new documentary she has presented focusing on online trolls.
The 33-year-old detailed how she received persistent messages on her Instagram account every day, calling for the social media platform to take action to combat such behaviour.
The Inbetweeners actress showed the clear toll the messages have taken on her as she discussed one online abuser who has repeatedly contacted her, despite being blocked on the platform.
Phillip described how the individual will then create a new social media account when Emily blocks him, in a repeated pattern.
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The Inbetweeners actress showed the clear toll the messages have taken (ITV)Phillip said: “He says that he’s sending you the hideous stuff he sends you while his wife and children are asleep.”
Emily explained: “He says he tucks his children into bed and then he comes online to abuse me.
“Then he sometimes asks if I'll get involved with him and his wife. Or then he’ll want to do it behind his wife’s back while his children are asleep.”
The star then welled up in the studio as she continued: “He calls himself daddy Dave to me and constantly says the words daddy, daddy, which is a really psychologically horrible thing.”
The star welled up in the studio as Phil stood up to reach for the box of tissues (ITV)Holly reached a hand out to hold Emily as she was overcome with emotion at the ordeal, while co-host Phil stood up to reach for the box of tissues in the studio.
He asked if the perpetrator has ever shown her his face, which she said he has not as Holly described the behaviour as ‘horrible’.
Phil said: “What you want more than anything is to be able to track these people down.
“You want to be able to stop them, identify them because of what they’re putting you through.
Emily detailed the 'really psychologically horrible' behaviour (ITV)“Many people would say that it was unfair, that you should expose them – this is the guy, this is the man that’s doing it.”
Emily was still tearful as she wiped tears from her eyes and said: “I’m terrified of exposing someone and then I ruin their life.”
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Holly then insisted: “I don’t think you need to be worried about anybody but yourself.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.