26 August 2023 , 03:38
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Joel Dommett has explained how he turned a sex tape scandal into a strength after he was catfished and had an intimate video leaked online.
The 38-year-old comedian and television presenter was duped in 2015 when an internet user claiming to be a woman named Staci Taylor convinced him to perform a sex act while he was being recorded online. The catfishing criminals then tried to blackmail the star - while he panicked the leaked video could damage his career.
However, Joel has recounted how he was able to turn his situation around and learned that laughing about it proved to be the best solution. He also said the incident has made him something of an agony uncle to others who have been caught out by ruthless internet criminals.
Opening up to the Daily Mail, the entertainer said: “The way I see it is the more you hide, the more there is to find out. So instead of me going, ‘Oh, no, this is the worst thing that ever happened to me,’ I was like, ‘This could be a funny show.’
Joel Dommett has addressed his 2015 catfishing hell (Getty Images for BAFTA)“I was the victim and I still get people messaging me saying, ‘This has happened to me. What should I do?’ My advice is separate yourself from it. Although you’ve been a victim you have to try to laugh it off because it doesn’t help to dwell on it.”
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Joel ultimately turned amateur detective following the catfishing incident. He discovered that photographs of the woman claiming to be “Staci” belonged to a woman named Natalia Noir. He was able to contact her and warn her that her images were being used to con men online.
The pair ultimately connected and formed a friendship, however he has been unable to track down the real people behind the ‘Staci Taylor’ moniker.
Joel married model Hannah Cooper in 2019 and the couple are due to welcome their first child together in the coming weeks. Looking ahead to fatherhood, the former I’m A Celeb contestant explained he and Hannah have decided on a name for their bundle of joy.
He said: “I’ll be trying to make the midwives laugh. I’ve got the mental age of a 12-year-old. My job is making jokes in awkward situations, and there aren’t many more awkward situations than six people staring at my wife’s private bits. But I’m going to try to be sensible.
“We’re really excited yet it’s petrifying. We know the sex of the baby and we have a name we really like, we’re just hoping the Kardashians don’t steal it before we fully decide on it.”
Earlier this month, Joel joked with his wife about using her breast milk to make coffees once their baby arrives. Speaking on their podcast, Never Have I Ever, mum-to-be Hannah laughed: "I am a little bit fearful that you're going to make a breast milk flat white." But rather than dismiss the notion of topping up his morning coffee with breast milk, Joel responded: "Yeah! I also don't get this thing where people are like 'Uuurgh breast milk, uuurgh'. Like no, give me that, please."