Georgia Harrison on her fight against revenge porn: ‘I hope he has a nice life’
Georgia Harrison is smartly dressed in a pink boucle jacket and a white blouse buttoned up at the collar, hair swept off her face in a slick, smart ponytail. But as soon as she gets off the Zoom call, she’ll change into a Tinkerbell costume for early Halloween celebrations – as seen in photographs now shared on Instagram.
This is the fun, carefree woman the reality star and influencer used to be, before her ex, Stephen Bear, almost ruined her life.
It has been seven months since he was jailed for sharing CCTV footage of them having sex, recorded without her knowledge, and it finally “feels like the fog has lifted… I’m falling in love with the magic of life again”.
Harrison, 28, is a former The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island star. Now, she is a well-known activist following her high-profile ordeal, which she details in her new memoir, Taking Back My Power.
It began in August 2020, after she slept with Bear. While he told her afterwards about the footage and assured her it would remain private, there was a nagging doubt. She started to hear stories that people had seen it, and then received screenshots.
This was the hardest period of her life, she says, as she waited in limbo for the inevitable. When the footage did go viral, first through Bear’s OnlyFans account and then picked up by Pornhub, she says she was almost relieved.
“I was living in fear and I was imagining these situations… all these people are going to judge me, my friends and family are going to be so disappointed,” she explained.
“I think when it actually did go viral and everyone knew about it, it was almost like a weight lifted – to be able to have the conversations with my friends and family… and then also the police and people that could actually help me.
“I think I really needed to have those conversations to understand I had nothing to be ashamed of.”
‘I had no option but to go to the police’
Harrison’s influencing career crumbled as brands she worked with quickly dropped her.
It is hard to overstate the shame, embarrassment and fear she felt, she says – knowing how many people had viewed the footage or were searching for the “sex tape”.
But she never had any hesitation about going to the police or doing everything in her power to put a stop to it.
She even asked her Instagram followers to help her collate evidence, publicly waiving her right to anonymity as a victim of a sexual offence.
“As soon as I realised the scale of how many porn websites it was on and also the fact that he directly sold it himself on a verified account, I was like, absolutely there’s no other option now to just go to the police and face this head-on,” she said.
During Bear’s trial in 2022, his Twitter account shared a half-price deal for his adult entertainment website alongside a photo of him arriving at court accompanied by his girlfriend.
The image showed him walking from a hired chauffeur-driven white Rolls Royce to the court building, with the accompanying text reading: “50% off my adult site for the next 24 hours. Come see why I’m trending.”
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Stephen Bear takes selfie and sings before being jailed
‘It was really demoralising’
Harrison describes his behaviour as “appalling”. But it showed the real Stephen Bear, she adds.
“He was arrogant, he was rude, he was dismissive,” she says. “He treated women outside [the court], especially the reporters, like they were completely insignificant. And that is him. So if anything, it was nice for the public to be able to see what I was dealing with in reality.”
She had to relive her ordeal in court, verifying photos of the footage that were shown to jurors.
“You feel really exposed, having to go through, one at a time, pictures of you in different sexual positions you had no idea anyone would ever see you in,” she says.
“It was really, really tough. And it wasn’t just tough for me. I felt embarrassed but I could tell the whole room felt embarrassed, the jury must’ve felt really uncomfortable as well.
“But I knew I had to do it. So it was just like, bite the bullet and push through. It was really demoralising.”
Bear, now 33, was found guilty of voyeurism, and two counts of disclosing private, sexual photographs and films. In March this year, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
It was a hugely significant conviction. According to data collated by the women’s charity Refuge earlier this year, of 13,860 intimate image offences recorded by 24 police forces between 1 January 2019 and 31 July 2022, the alleged offender was charged or summonsed in just 4% of cases. A conviction is even less likely.
Changes to the law
Following campaigning by Harrison and others, the government in June announced changes to make it easier to convict those who share revenge porn.
While the act was criminalised in 2015, the new amendments will remove the requirement for prosecutors to prove perpetrators intended to cause distress in order to secure a conviction.
“I still find it hard to comprehend that that actually happened,” she says. “I think it’s going to change conviction rates. I really hope in a year’s time I’m having these discussions and I have statistics to show it’s made a difference.”
She adds: “Because for the girls I speak to, the victims I’ve spoken to in the past, it really has let them down so many times, that clause.”
Harrison now wants online platforms to face tougher consequences for hosting images or footage taken or shared without consent.
She says: “One of the most traumatising things wasn’t even coming to terms with the fact he’d done it to me. It was coming to terms with the fact these powerful platforms – who are making billions of dollars a year and are in such a huge position, where they have a responsibility to be looking after their subscribers or their viewers – were just so ignorant.”
“None of them wanted to answer me,” Harrison says. She received automated responses of “we’ll get back to you in five to six days”.
A spokesperson for OnlyFans said the site took down the video “within 24 hours of being notified, closed the account and aided the prosecution of Stephen Bear”.
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‘It’s not a lot to ask’
Harrison does not have much faith in tech companies but does have faith in the Online Safety Bill, which will place new duties on social media platforms to protect users from harmful content.
For the biggest platforms, failure to protect users could see them face significant fines of up to £18m or 10% of global revenue – potentially billions of pounds – and tech bosses could even face prison in extreme cases.
“I think once that comes into play, they’re going to put more money into compliance,” Harrison says.
She wants social media firms to have employees who can deal with complaints about any form of abuse online.
She explains: “You should be able to speak to a human being who can immediately take the relevant steps to either pause or stop content until it’s further reviewed. It’s not a lot to ask.”
Harrison’s life now is vastly different from the one she had mapped out as a reality star and influencer. She worked with multiple underwear brands before all this, but not now.
“I find it weird there was such a stigma in that industry,” she says. “I definitely think a lot of brands should be looking into the way they do treat women in these situations and also be doing more to empower women, especially when that’s their main clientele. It’s a bit hypocritical.”
But on the flip side, she says she is “really lucky to be opening new doors”. Earlier this month, she received Glamour magazine’s activist of the year award. Last month, she visited Downing Street.
“I think when you go through so much in such a small amount of time, it takes a while to adjust back to everything being happy… not having a fear that things are going to go wrong,” she says.
Georgia Harrison poses for photographers upon arrival at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2023 on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 in London. (Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
What would Harrison say to Bear?
Harrison has her book out and film projects in the pipeline. “I’ve got a few things that are going to show my resilient side, which I don’t think the UK has seen before,” she says.
I’m not sure that’s true, I say. If there is one word to sum up the Georgia Harrison of the past few years, it is probably resilient.
She smiles. “You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of,” is her message to anyone else suffering in the same way she did, she says.
I ask her what she would say to Bear, should she ever come across him again.
“Nothing,” is the quick response. All she wants is for him to admit to himself, not necessarily even publicly, that he was wrong, and “take steps to rehabilitate himself as a better human being and learn how to respect women, treat women well, and also not break the law in the future”.
Harrison finds her stride: “I believe that every human being who has lost their way in this world should have a chance at rehabilitation and bettering themselves and learning from the mistakes, I just don’t believe every human being has the ability to do it. But hopefully, he does and he goes on to live a nice life – but a moral life.”
Harrison is proud of everything she has achieved and determined to keep being a voice for others who may have suffered similar injustices, but says she needs to still be the old Georgia Harrison, too.
“I’m quite upbeat and comedic, I am a light-hearted person and I feel like those aspects of my personality tend to get a bit drowned out,” she says.
“I’m campaigning or speaking about things that are really important subjects, but also really quite mentally draining and quite tiring. So I’m just trying to figure out getting a balance.”
She wants to help other people, she says again. “And apart from that, I try and keep it sunshine and rainbows.” With that, she grins – telling me she’s eager to get changed into her costume for her Halloween party.
Tinkerbell – the fairy who fixes things.
Taking Back My Power, published by Renegade Books, with eBook and audio also available, is out now.
Entertainment
Kneecap row: Paul Weller and Primal Scream lead musicians in signing open letter in support of rap trio
Paul Weller, Primal Scream and DJ Annie Mac are among the music stars who have signed a letter in support of rap group Kneecap.
The politically-charged Belfast trio, who are no strangers to controversy, have faced criticism in recent weeks following a performance at US festival Coachella in which they displayed the message “F*** Israel. Free Palestine”.
Then came the emergence of footage, taken from a gig at London’s Kentish Town Forum last November, which appeared to show one member of the group shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
Video also emerged from a November 2023 gig, appearing to show one member of the group saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for Kneecap to face prosecution over the two videos, while Glastonbury Festival is now facing pressure to drop them from this year’s line-up.
A handful of the group’s gigs have been cancelled, including one that was set to take place at Cornwall’s Eden Project.
In an open letter, the group’s record label, Heavenly Recordings, said there had been a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform” the group.
More than 40 music acts have now signed the letter.
Former The Jam frontman Paul Weller is one of the artists to have given Kneecap their backing. Pic: AP
It reads: “As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.
“In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people.”
It also accuses politicians of “strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band” while ignoring a “genocide” in Gaza.
“Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story,” it says. “And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British Government is the real story.
“Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people.”
Instagram accounts belonging to other acts, including Mercury Prize nominees Yard Act, have commented on post featuring the statement, asking to be added.
Elsewhere, trip hop collective Massive Attack put out their own statement supporting Kneecap.
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Kneecap comments ‘dangerous and heartbreaking’
It comes as the Metropolitan Police is assessing the “kill MPs” video clip, along with the 2024 video in which a band member appeared to say “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the group – made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – addressed the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, saying: “We never intended to cause you hurt.”
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Kneecap said they “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual”.
“Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope,” the post added.
A former TV production assistant has told a court she felt “the unthinkable was happening” during an alleged assault by Harvey Weinstein.
Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault
Miriam Haley is the first of the former movie mogul’s accusers to testify at his retrial, which is taking place as New York’s highest court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction.
The former studio boss, 73, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape and two of forcing oral sex. He denies sexually assaulting anyone.
Ms Haley, who also goes by the name Mimi Haleyi, today told the court Weinstein held her down and forced oral sex on her after she told him: “No, no – it’s not going to happen.”
She dabbed her eyes as she recalled in court what went through her mind during the alleged July 2006 assault.
“The unthinkable was happening, I just thought any unthinkable thing could happen,” she said. “I just didn’t know where it ended.”
Weinstein, sitting between his lawyers, shook his head as she spoke.
Ms Haley also testified at Weinstein’s initial trial.
Miriam Haley arriving to the courtroom yesterday. Pic: AP
She began her testimony yesterday by describing how she got to know Weinstein, saying she had some inappropriate and suggestive interactions with him, while others were polite and professional.
Ms Haley maintains she was always looking to forge a professional connection – not sex or romance – with the Miramax founder.
Read more: What has happened to the #MeToo movement?
Weinstein’s lawyers are yet to question Ms Haley, but the defence has sought, often unsuccessfully, to object to prosecutors’ questions, such as whether Ms Haley had any sexual interest in the then-powerful producer. She said she did not.
The defence has argued that all of Weinstein’s accusers consented to sexual activities with him in the hopes of getting work in show business.
The 73-year-old’s retrial includes charges based on allegations from Haley and Jessica Mann, an actress who alleges Weinstein raped her in 2013.
For the first time, he is also being tried on an allegation of forcing oral sex on a former model, Kaja Sokola, in 2006.
Irish band Kneecap have had a meteoric rise in the music industry, with tens of millions of streams on Spotify alone and widespread critical acclaim.
The trio’s genre-bending rap/hip hop tracks, performed in a mixture of English and Irish-language, have clearly resonated with a mainstream audience, but their many controversial moments – some of them seemingly intentional – have helped them hit such heights.
Here’s what you need to know about the band and their most notorious moments.
Who’s in the band?
The group is made up of three friends from Belfast: Mo Chara (Liam Og O Hannaidh), Moglai Bap (Naoise O Caireallain) and DJ Provai (JJ O Dochartaigh).
The latter is a former teacher who still wears a balaclava, initially to disguise himself from his students when the band started out in 2017.
Kneecap performing in Belfast last year. Pic: PA
They were controversial from the get-go – and seemingly by design.
Their debut track – CEARTA – is based on how band member Bap was stopped by police for spray-painting cearta, the Irish word for rights, on a bus stop.
Before fame, Bap and Chara, who have known each other for around 15 years, transformed a former youth club into party hub, where they would play their favourite tracks.
And it was through this venture into the club space that they later met DJ Provai.
The group called themselves Kneecap in reference to kneecapping, a common form of paramilitary punishment in Northern Ireland during The Troubles which sees someone shot or hit repeatedly on both knees.
From cult heroes to mainstream success
Kneecap released their first mixtape, 3cag, in 2018 to critical acclaim, and their 2019 single HOOD is their most streamed single to date.
But their success reached new levels in 2024 with the release of their 18-track album, Fine Art, which culminated in a headline-worthy crowd attending their early-morning timeslot at Glastonbury.
Kneecap played a headline-worthy set at Glastonbury
The band then ventured into the film industry with a self-titled biopic about their rise to prominence, set in post-Troubles Belfast, starring themselves alongside Irish actor Michael Fassbender.
Before its full release last summer, it had been the talk of various film festivals, including Tribeca in New York.
Speaking to Sky News at Glastonbury last year, the band said the reaction had been “crazy”.
Since then it’s got crazier, with the film getting six BAFTA nominations and earning its writer and director Rich Peppiatt a win for Outstanding Debut.
Kneecap on the BAFTA Film Awards 2025 red carpet with film director Rich Peppiatt. Pic: PA
The band cracked the UK and are now following suit in the US, having sold out several shows there.
Court battle with the UK government
It would take a long time to cover all of Kneecap’s controversial moments; much of it is a part of their music itself.
They have been banned from Irish public service broadcaster RTE for their references to drug-taking.
But there have been some particularly high-profile incidents since 2024.
Kneecap fans during the Electric Picnic Festival in 2022. File pic: PA
The first was their legal battle with the then-Conservative UK government, who blocked a grant for the band which was initially approved by the British Phonographic Industry.
The group’s application to the Music Export Growth Scheme, which supports UK-registered artists in global markets, was for £14,250, but Kemi Badenoch, then business secretary, stopped it.
At the time, a government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was “hardly surprising” it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers’ money to those opposed to the United Kingdom.
One of their most famous tracks had been 2019’s Get Your Brits Out, which had been criticised for being anti-British.
The trio have always denied this being the case.
Chara told Sky News after their Glastonbury set: “This is a thing that people love to spin, like we’re some anti-British band.
“We have English family. We have loads of good friends who call themselves British. It’s the British government we don’t like.”
Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK government in November, earning them the same amount that the grant was worth.
Left to right: Band members Mo Chara, DJ Provai and Moglai Bap. Pic: PA
DJ Provai said the band’s motivation was “equality”.
“For us, this action was never about £14,250; it could have been 50p,” he said, after the band said it would donate the funds to two Belfast charities.
“This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves.”
Calling for deaths of Conservative MPs
Police say they are assessing a video of a Kneecap performance from November 2023, in which a member of the trio allegedly called for the death of Conservative MPs.
The member is alleged to have said: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Two British MPs have been murdered in the past 10 years – Labour’s Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative Sir David Amess in 2021.
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MPs daughter calls for Kneecap apology on The Sarah-Jane Mee Show
In a statement, Kneecap said they rejected “any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.”
They added: “An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.
“To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.”
Pro-Palestinian messages at gigs
The investigation into the MP comments was announced several days after the Met said it had referred a different video from a Kneecap gig to be reviewed by counter-terror police.
Footage from that gig, at London’s Kentish Town Forum last November, appeared to show one member of the group shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
Hamas and Hezbollah are both proscribed as terrorist groups in the UK. Under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to express “an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation”.
The police say they are “assessing” both clips to “determine whether further police investigation is required”.
Kneecap have said they are facing a “co-ordinated smear campaign” after speaking out about “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.
Kneecap fans at one of their concerts in 2022. File pic: PA
In their statement, they said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.
“Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs.”
Investigation comes after Coachella fallout
Just days before the police investigations were announced, TV personality Sharon Osbourne called for Kneecap’s US work visas to be revoked after accusing them of making “aggressive political statements” including “projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech” at Coachella Music and Arts Festival.
As the band performed on the second night, they displayed words on the big screen reading: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
“It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F*** Israel. Free Palestine”.
Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which came after Hamas gunmen launched an attack killing 1,200 people in Israel on 7 October 2023, has seen at least 52,000 people killed, according to the Gaza health ministry.
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Speaking to Rolling Stone after Osbourne’s comments, Kneecap member Mo Chara said: “Her rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply, but she should listen to War Pigs that was written by Black Sabbath [led by Ozzy Osbourne, her husband].”
He also told the outlet: “We believe we have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine, and it was important for us to speak out at Coachella as the USA is the main funder and supplier of weapons to Israel as they commit genocide in Gaza.”
Kneecap has been continually outspoken in favour of Palestinians at gigs.
In November, DJ Provai arrived for the court verdict against the UK government in a vehicle bearing the Irish and Palestinian flags and blaring loud music.
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