The revelation that a controversial gossip website, accused of enabling stalking, harassment, doxing, and relentless online trolling of celebrities and influencers, was operated by 41-year-old vegan influencer Sebastian Bond, has sent shockwaves through the industry.
While many public figures are accustomed to online abuse, numerous individuals, including glamour model Katie Price, contend that Tattle Life’s actions crossed a line, describing it as “the absolute worst platform for trolling.”
Launched in 2017, Tattle Life presented itself as a commentary site on public figures’ social media. Its founder remained anonymous until recently.
Following a landmark defamation and harassment case in Northern Ireland, the website’s previously elusive founder was unmasked.
Price expressed relief to the BBC at the founder’s identification, stating, “People shouldn’t be able to hide behind a keyboard.”
The Centre for Countering Digital Hate estimates Tattle Life generated annual revenue of up to £180,000 from Google Ads. Following BBC inquiries, Google confirmed ad restrictions on the site.
Price revealed hundreds of threads and anonymous comments targeted her appearance, relationships, and family, particularly her son Harvey, who has multiple disabilities.
The 47-year-old model shared with the BBC that the site published private documents – a practice known as doxing – including confidential mail.
“It’s absolutely horrendous, the stuff that’s posted about me,” she stated. “The abuse is unmanageable, especially when they involve my family.”
Price’s experiences with the relentless trolling on Tattle Life contributed to a suicide attempt and multiple mental health hospitalizations.
In an email to the BBC’s The State of Us podcast (June 17th), Tattle Life defended its model, arguing that influencers monetizing their personal lives should face scrutiny. However, this view is not universally shared.
Emily Clarkson, daughter of Jeremy Clarkson, described how the site preemptively announced her pregnancy and published hurtful comments about her wedding appearance, impacting her mental health.
Influencer Carly Rowena was also targeted following her son’s hospitalization, with users blaming her for profiting from the situation.
Rowena highlighted a six-year-old thread containing her and her parents’ addresses.
Beauty expert Caroline Hirons dismissed the site’s justification as a “lie,” citing the publication of her grandchildren’s photos as an example of excessive intrusion.
Hirons also had private documents and images of her children and grandchildren shared on the platform.
“This isn’t normal trolling – it’s become a platform for stalking and constant harassment,” she asserted.
Lydia Millen, with over 1.6 million Instagram followers, emphasized the importance of accountability, arguing against anonymity on online forums.
“While opinions are protected, anonymity shouldn’t shield users from legal consequences,” she stated.
Millen, a frequent target, has endured years of relentless trolling and expressed concerns for her family’s safety.
Influencer Jen Graham suggested identity verification, using documents like driving licenses, to deter harmful behavior.
“This would make users accountable and allow for consequences for cruelty,” she explained, detailing the severe impact a Tattle Life thread had on her mental health.
Katie Price has advocated for criminalizing online abuse and mandating verified identification for social media accounts.
“Traceability is key; most wouldn’t post such things under their real names,” she argued, explaining her difficulties pursuing legal action due to anonymity.
Tattle Life claims a zero-tolerance policy and 24/7 moderation, while Laura Rodrigo stated recent events highlight a need for change and promised improved reporting.
SimilarWeb data indicates over 11.5 million visits in the past month, primarily from the UK.
The Sands’ defamation and harassment lawsuit, which awarded them £300,000, unmasked Sebastian Bond (Bastian Durward), who operated under the pseudonym Helen McDougal for almost a decade.
The Sands have since received over 1,000 messages from other victims of the platform’s abuse and intend to pursue legal action against other users.
An email from Bond’s lawyers claimed unawareness of the proceedings and inability to mount a defense.
Mr. Sands intends to continue legal action against Tattle Life users, citing user names listed in the court order.
Mr. Sands reported ongoing stalking-related comments despite previous reports. Tattle Life did not respond to BBC inquiries on this matter.
The Centre for Countering Digital Hate criticized the site’s monetization of cruelty through Google Ads; Google stated they’ve restricted ads on the site, impacting its revenue.
Ofcom’s assessment of platform compliance with the Online Safety Act is ongoing, with potential enforcement actions against non-compliant platforms.
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