The 37-year-old went to extreme lengths in her new documentary.
Reality TV star Vicky Pattison has spoken out after she received backlash for creating a deepfake sex tape of herself while filming a documentary for Channel 4.
The former Geordie Shore star created My Deepfake Sex Tape with the help of Channel 4 last year, and it is scheduled to air on Tuesday 28 January at 10pm.
For those who aren’t aware, deepfakes are usually video or audio media that manipulate the appearance or voice of a person, ultimately creating fake content.
While promoting the programme on her Instagram, Pattison explained: “I’ve done something I never thought I would ever find myself doing: I’ve created & released my own deepfake sex tape for a brand new documentary coming to Channel 4.
“Directed & produced with actors to ensure full consent, this was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made. Why? Because I wanted to experience—even just a tiny fraction—what victims of this horrifying & ever-growing trend go through.”
She continued: “I wanted to expose the devastating reality of deepfake pornography: content made without consent, created with alarming ease using readily available technology, stripping women of their dignity & control, & leaving their lives in pieces.
“This isn’t just technology gone rogue; it’s abuse. And it’s thriving.
“In 2024, explicit deepfake videos reached record numbers & unsurprisingly over 90% of the victims were women,” the 37-year-old added. “Yet, as this insidious trend grows, society & lawmakers are doing shockingly little to stop it. Women are being violated in the most intimate & dehumanising way, & the world just scrolls past.
“We’re told AI has so many benefits that will help to save the world—reducing human error, detecting cancer, saving time. But here’s the truth: AI is also fueling a new frontier of abuse. Without urgent legislation, education for young people, & action from tech giants, this nightmare will only get worse.
“Violence against women isn’t new,” added Pattison. “The issue of consent isn’t new. But deepfake abuse? This is a terrifying evolution of an age old tale. A tale of power, control & the exploitation of women.
“This film is my plea for action. We need stronger laws. We need tech companies to step up. We need society to wake up.
“We cannot let this become the cost of progress. Stand with us. Speak out. Fight back.”
Filmmakers used artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose Pattison’s face onto an actor portraying her likeness.
After releasing the video last week, Pattison was met with a wave of backlash from people who called the move ‘disrespectful’.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, she explained: “The video itself has always been the part of the documentary I’ve wrestled with the most. So it isn’t a decision I made lightly, and it is one that I struggled with right until the end.
“I completely understand some people might be angry and upset about what we’ve done and I in no way want to diminish that.
“I’d never want to trivialise victims’ feelings,” Pattison added.
“I had the privilege of speaking to brave survivors and a lot of them felt that creating the mock deepfake sex tape was a bold way to shine a much-needed spotlight on the issue.”
One victim told The Sun that she was ‘deeply offended, let down and disappointed’ by the clip, claiming it was ‘disrespectful’ to victims.
“I can’t compare my experience to what the victims of this go through, I really can’t,” insisted Pattison.
“My heart goes out to them. I want to assure them that their feelings are valid and that I in no way want to diminish that.”