Bachelorette Star Josh Seiter Releases Nudes After Revenge Porn Threat
Image: Josh Seiter Supplied
Reality television star Josh Seiter has released nudes of himself after allegedly being blackmailed with their release by an ex.聽聽
In a conversation with Star Observer, Seiter shared that the situation is making him 鈥減hysically sick to my stomach. I haven鈥檛 been able to eat in days and I wake up with panic attacks every night鈥t鈥檚 been hell on earth.鈥澛�
The Bachelorette contestant came out in June and revealed he was dating a man.聽The Season 11 Bachelorette contestant told , that he had a new romantic partner who was a man. Seiter鈥檚 boyfriend, David, is an exotic dancer and the couple have been dating on and off since November last year.
‘It鈥檚 Empowering To Refuse To Be A Victim’
In order to reclaim back some of his power, he has released the images to Star Observer.
鈥淚鈥檝e been trying to work on reframing this whole incident and restructuring my thoughts so they aren鈥檛 so catastrophic,鈥� Seiter said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time for me to take back control. I can either look at these pictures as something I鈥檓 ashamed of, or I can be proud of them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 empowering to refuse to be a victim, and to choose instead to use this situation as a chance to embrace my body and be proud of it.鈥�
He continued, 鈥淚鈥檓 choosing to take back control of the situation by proudly displaying these pictures to the world. Now, this person isn鈥檛 in control. I am. And my body isn鈥檛 an image of shame, it鈥檚 something I鈥檓 publishing proudly.鈥�
‘I Thought I Could Trust Them’
Seiter explained that he and the ex were 鈥渢ogether off and on for a few months鈥�, before breaking up in late 2022.
鈥淚 thought I could trust them, but clearly I was wrong,鈥� he said.聽
He contacted the police in the United States, but as the threats were allegedly said in a phone call and not in writing, there was 鈥渘ot much they can do about it.鈥�
According to Seiter, the police weren’t any help, telling him he would need to have a voice recording or a text or email.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit late for that,鈥� he said.聽
‘We All Need To Be A Little Bit Kinder To One Another’
Moving forward, Seiter wanted to stress that, 鈥渞evenge porn in any form is not only a crime, it鈥檚 detrimental to an individual鈥檚 mental health.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚 know that being in the public eye comes with a certain expectation of lack of privacy, but no one deserves to have their naked photos shared with the world without their consent.聽
鈥淲e all need to be a little bit kinder to one another. We never know what someone may be going through. Trying to destroy their sense of privacy and sense of worth is never okay.鈥�
Revenge Porn Is Illegal In Australia
In NSW, recording and distributing of intimate images of a person without consent is a crime. It holds a maximum sentence of three years in jail and an $11,000 fine.聽
According to the NSW government, 鈥淐ourts can order offenders to take reasonable steps to recover, delete or destroy images taken or distributed without consent.聽
鈥淔ailure to do so could result in an additional two-year jail sentence and a $5500 fine.
鈥淚t is also an offence to threaten to record or distribute intimate images.鈥�
