Neighbours star Olympia Valance has issued a profound statement revealing she is “re-traumatised” as she has been the victim of a cyber crime again.
The actress, who plays Paige Smith on the Australian soap, shared a statement with her 215,000 Instagram followers.
She revealed that she has been dealing with her phone being hacked and private images being shared online for “over a year”, with new images being circulated recently.
The 27-year-old wrote: “As a victim of this, I have had to fight to try and contain these images from reaching the broader public and for media not to publish stories using my name.”
Olympia Valance has spoke of the traumatising sharing of her private images hacked from her phone (Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
She continued: “2020 has been challenging for us on every level, and this time has really rocked me.
“Taking intimate photos for yourself, or to share with a partner is not a shameful thing to do.
“Stealing them and sharing them online without consent is.
“We should be allowed to embrace our sexuality without fear that someone will take those images and manipulate them for their own gain.”
Olympia plays Paige on Australian soap Neighbours (Image: Fremantle Media)
Urging people not to seek out the images, Olympia said: “Imagine the level of profound violation if this happened to your daughter, your sister, or to you.
“I am a public figure, but I am also a human being. I am not immune to these scandals. I hurt and I certainly feel pain.
“Like many other women who are also victims of this heartless and intrusive crime, I have to come to terms with these pictures being circulated beyond my control.”
Olympia has shared a powerful message refusing to apologise for taking the private photos in the first place (Image: PA)
Olympia thanked her boyfriend, family, friends, lawyers, management, psychologists and “the angels at Image Cyber Crime” for supporting her through the traumatic situation.
She said: “To all of you, and you know who you are, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for lifting me up when I was at my weakest.”
Explaining she wants to “be at peace”, Olympia detailed the exhaustion she has felt throughout, as well as her inability to stop the spreading of the photos despite getting police involved.
She said: “Now I want to take some control back and use my voice for good. For positive change.”
The final slide of her Instagram message called for female empowerment, reiterating her point that the taking of the intimate photos is not shameful, but the stealing and sharing of them is.
Taking a powerful stance, the actress finished: “I’m not ashamed. I’m not embarrassed. I will not apologise. I have done nothing wrong.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
