Celebrities hit by revenge porn including Kim Kardashian as Tulisa Contostavlos reveals trauma of leaked sex tape

The 36-year-old singer, who was a judge on The X Factor in 2012, revealed that the ordeal took “many years” to process. Her ex-boyfriend, Justin Edwards, released the explicit video in the same year, after they had broken up three years earlier, and the violation left her feeling “judged, disgusting, and ashamed.”

Reflecting on the impact this had on her role as a judge on the ITV show, Tulisa explained: “Honestly, there's no words to describe. It felt like virtual rape, that's the only way I can describe the emotion. It was just horrific. I felt so just judged and I felt disgusting, I felt ashamed.”

The betrayal weighed heavily on her, leading her to a difficult second season on the show, during which she became “miserable,” admitting, “I hated it every day. It’s taken me years... it’s life-changing in a big, big way.”

At the time, revenge porn was not yet criminalised in the UK, meaning Tulisa’s only legal recourse was a civil suit that eventually led to a court apology from Edwards. Despite her win, Tulisa recalls feeling frustrated that he faced no criminal consequences, saying, “It is now (illegal). It just wasn’t then, it’s mental.” Although she successfully secured an apology, the ordeal left a lasting impact on her personal life, especially regarding relationships and intimacy.

Tulisa ultimately emerged stronger as she thanked her fans and supporters who stood by her during the challenging period. “I stand here today a stronger, wiser young woman who has taken this experience and learnt from it,” she said, adding, “With that support and my determination, I have won this battle. This time, Justin messed with the wrong woman.”

But Tulisa wasn’t the only one to fall victim to revenge porn. Here are several other high-profile celebrities who have faced similar violations over the years: