Georgia Harrison’s documentary on her legal battle with her ex-boyfriend, Stephen Bear, made its way onto ITVX on Monday 20th March, 2023. This informative documentary provides insight into the couple’s relationship dynamics. It also includes the lead-up to him videotaping their sexual acts without her consent and then deciding to post it on social media.
For the sake of reader transparency, I have found the documentary on Youtube, "Revenge Porn Georgia vs Bear 2023," and it can be viewed without the need for an ITV account or a TV license.
The documentary displays Harrison’s journey to receiving legal justice, as well as providing the insight into her friends, family, and legal team. Taking Bear to court and eventually seeing him charged and sentenced caused her an immense amount of suffering due to the victim-blaming she received. The shaming came from the leaked video, Bear's defamation of her character, and slut-shaming from fans and commentators online.
However, since receiving justice from the video leak that Bear orchestrated, Harrison has been dedicating her time to making sure that other victims of revenge porn receive justice too. She is now a campaigner for stricter and stronger laws for situations like these. She intends to help minimise the shame that present or future victims go through when having their sexual content shared without consent.
Jacqueline Carey KC, the Barrister for the Prosecution, stated that “Georgia decided to waive her anonymity. She explained that for her, her anonymity disappeared the day that the footage surfaced, and went viral on the internet”.
This quotation from the Prosecution’s Barrister is particularly telling, as it demonstrates the emotional turmoil that Bear put her under. The monetised sexual footage clearly portrayed her lewd acts and positioning. Despite her anonymity being withdrawn the second that he put the video online, she has used her case as a way to empower fellow victims of this crime and deter future persecutors.
Bear’s actions to post this nonconsensual footage on social media are particularly shocking, considering that he posted it on his OnlyFans account. Not only can this content become widespread, but it is also monetisable, and every view would directly assist Bear’s financial situation. According to Jacqueline Carey KC, "On the day that the video went viral, evidence from OnlyFans suggested that Stephen Bear’s OnlyFans account was used to raise the subscription price." The price increase from £25 to £50 shows Bear’s intent when spreading this video. Evidently, others’ privacy means less to him than his bank balance. According to Grazia Daily, Bear allegedly made profits of around £40,000 from this private footage, which he leaked to his paying customers.
After this explosive court case, Bear has been found guilty of revenge porn, disclosing private sexual images (with the intent of causing distress), and voyeurism. After being found guilty of these crimes, Bear has been sentenced to 21 months in prison. In addition, he has been put on the Sex Offender’s Register for the next 10 years. Additionally, Harrison has been granted a restraining order against Bear, which prevents him from contacting her for the next five years.
After the court ruling, Harrison spoke to the press to give a statement regarding her reaction to Bear’s charges and sentencing. She said, “The only way to describe how I’m feeling is relieved. The last two years have been absolute Hell, and this verdict will allow me to put the pain I’ve suffered in the past and start embracing my future. Bear’s behaviour was completely unacceptable, and those who choose to commit such a crime, should and will be prosecuted.”
Harrison thanked the Essex police force, her legal team, and her social media following for helping her throughout this case. Her appreciation for support was followed by: “I hope me taking a stand gives other men and women who have fallen victim of revenge porn the courage to seek justice, and most importantly show them that they have nothing to be ashamed of.”
In addition, I will quote a section of Harrison’s speech after the last day of court. It is particularly potent, considering the prevalence of unsolicited sexual harm, and the rise in cases relating to revenge porn. According to her: “Today’s sentence is a vindication of what I’ve been put through and sends a clear message that the police and the courts take this matter very seriously. I want to let all other victims of this crime know that I stand in solidarity with them; I hope that this puts anyone off committing this sort of crime, and I hope for anyone else who has been victim of it, it gives them some sort of justice.”
Hopefully, this publicised legal case deters future criminal behaviour and allows victims to find their voice to speak out against their persecutors. The publicity of this case restricted Harrison’s personal life and success for several years. I hope that she finds some peace of mind after the sentencing. Her privacy was stripped away when Bear decided to share this video around and then monetise the content. Thankfully, justice has been served, and Harrison’s dignity has been upheld.
Cases like these are preventable, and they demonstrate how one person’s selfish actions can affect someone’s entire life and livelihood.
I want to thank my editor for all his counsel and assistance with my writing and editing. I am very appreciative of all the help that he has provided, which has allowed my articles to come to life. His account on ‘The Social Talks’ is linked below:
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