19 February 2023 , 06:29
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Frankie Bridge has spoken out against the ‘belittling’ sexual harassment she receives online - echoing concerns from fellow celeb Emily Atack.
The 34-year-old singer-turned-TV star - who shares sons Parker, nine, and seven-year-old Carter, with 42-year-old husband Wayne Bridge - says she is under near constant barrage from sexualised online comments.
Frankie says she is able to quickly identify repeat offenders and tries her best to avoid the offensive content - but fears it will be a long time before such behaviour is stamped out.
The star - who is a recurring panelist on ITV’s Loose Women - thinks more women should speak up about the ’disgusting’ messages they are sent in order to raise awareness, continue the discussion around abusive messaging, and hopefully lead to a solution.
Frankie Bridge has hit out at online sexual harassment (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
The mum-of-two says she often receives unwanted lewd messages online (Dave Benett/Getty Images)Speaking to Fabulous magazine, Frankie said: “I generally don’t get [sent] pictures, but I’ve had regular people sending me the same disgusting messages all the time. I know what it’s going to be now, so I try not to open it, but it makes you feel belittled – and I think this is a conversation we need to be having.
Emily Atack and Frankie Bridge lead glamour in daring frocks at pre-BAFTAs party
“It’s a really hard one to crack down on and we’ve got a long way to go until it’s eradicated.”
She also praised actress and comedienne Emily Atack, 33, who has spoken out against online harassment, recently released a documentary called Emily Atack: Asking For It?, and is campaigning for cyberflashing to be criminalised.
Back in 2021, Emily met with MPs in parliament to describe her experiences online and to encourage them to take action against it.
She told Grazia following her meeting: “It was an intense conversation about a really important subject.
Emily Atack has campaigned against online sexual harassment (Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock)
She released a BBC documentary on the subject earlier this month (Dave Benett/Getty Images for EE)“It’s a subject that I'm so passionate about, and it was so amazing to see people sat in a very important building, taking this seriously. And it warms your heart, knowing that people are concerned about the same things that you are.”
She added: “It was just such an honour to be a part of that discussion, and to be listened to - and to be respected in that capacity.”
Meanwhile, Frankie has spoken out about another online issue - cancel culture - and says she fears for her own children being censored or punished for things they may say by accident.
Frankie and her husband Wayne Bridge have two sons together; Parker and Carter (Instagram)
Frankie worries cancel culture could negatively impact her children's futures (PA)She told Fabulous: “Cancel culture is really unhealthy. We’ve always taught our children that if you make a mistake, you say sorry, learn from it and move on. And now we’re telling young people that if you mess up once, you’re screwed.
“Obviously there are different levels of that and some things you can’t come back from, but I think it’s going to change the way that TV and journalism work. And how general life works for young kids – and I worry for them with that.”