In the week leading up to former One Direction member Liam Payne's fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina, his ex-fiancée Maya Henry contacted him with a restraining order. The British music artist was reportedly involved in legal entanglement, in addition to dealing with mental health issues and drug abuse.
The legal notice stated that Payne allegedly sent "explicit, unsolicited and disturbing photos and videos of himself" to his ex-partner and her family before his death in October.
Henry's lawyers accused Payne of sending inappropriate content to her and her family in the past, with a restraining order sent on October 9, a week before his untimely death. Henry's side also claimed that Liam was trying to threaten his ex-girlfriend with "revenge porn".
The alleged content cited in the formal notice included "photos of his genitalia and various videos of Payne performing disturbing sexual acts on himself."
It was also believed that the British artist was "actively communicating" with other parties to distribute "visual material" that captured Henry and Kate Cassidy, his girlfriend at the time of his death, in an "intimate manner."
Liam Payne allegedly contacted a third party to share intimate photos of his ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend.
According to Payne, what is 'revenge porn'?
'Revenge pornography' is a type of digital abuse in which nude or sexual photos or videos are shared without the consent of the people photographed. Also called non-consensual pornography, it is closely related to sexual abuse. A current or past partner may share these images as "revenge" or may threaten to share them as a form of blackmail.
How can 'revenge porn' affect people?
- Psychological problems. You may face long-term personal and psychological problems after private images are posted publicly.
- Social anxiety and isolation . If you are a victim of revenge porn, you may begin to withdraw from social settings and become isolated. It can make you feel worthless or ashamed.
- Harassment and damage to reputation . Revenge porn posts can include your name, links to your social media accounts, and even your phone number. In one study, almost half of those affected by revenge porn said that others had harassed or stalked them online.
What can you do about revenge porn?
It is not always easy to take legal action in cases of revenge porn. And all the hurdles you may have to overcome can cause more distress during an already difficult time. But it can help you feel less unlucky and protect yourself from further damage.
Here are some steps you can take:
- Document everything. You will probably want to immediately remove any personal images you find online. But if you want to take legal action, you need to document this information. Before you delete anything, collect data. Take screenshots, download images and convert web pages to PDF.
- Report images . After collecting the data, you can try to remove the images or videos from the Internet. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and most other social media sites have options to report sexual or inappropriate content. If they are on another site, try to contact whoever manages that site. Take a screenshot and save every report you make.
What is victim blaming?
If someone has sent an intimate photo of you to others or posted it online, they may say it was your fault for sending the photo in the first place. This is a form of victim blaming.
How can you protect yourself from 'revenge porn'?
There is always a risk involved when taking explicit photos or videos.
You can always say "no" if someone obliges you. If something makes you feel insecure, don't do it. If you feel overwhelmed or insecure, tell someone else you trust. They can help you decide what your next steps should be.
Remember that intimate photos can be more easily used as revenge porn if they:
- Clearly show your face;
- Show tattoos, birthmarks, or other distinguishing features;
- Have a well-lit background, easy to identify.
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