Crystal Palace footballer Leigh Nicol is among four British women suing Pornhub over content violations, after an intimate video was posted to the site when hackers were able to access her iCloud account.
The lawsuit was filed in California yesterday (17 June), referring to 34 women - 14 of whom had been underage when the videos were uploaded - only as 'Jane Doe', followed by a number.
Nicol, who is 'Jane Doe 28', shared a statement on Instagram today, saying in the caption: "Over a year ago the process started, here is my statement on the filing. Thank you to you all, my family, friends, colleagues, lawyers and you."
In her statement, Nicol explained the complaint filed in the US courts was 'on behalf of multiple victims who suffered the posting of intimate videos, stolen and shared without consent, on the pornographic website Pornhub'.
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"I am one of those victims," she said, alleging that Pornhub had been 'facilitating abuse and torment of victims and increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, shame, and suicide', and now must take responsibility for the 'huge part' it played in ruining the lives of victims and their families.
The footballer continued: "When the videos appeared on Pornhub it ruined my life, it killed my personality, it zapped the happiness out of me. It brought me almost 2 years of shame, depression, anxiety, horrifying thoughts, public embarrassment and scars. I still bear those scars."
While the women's personal content was eventually removed, they say they only received automated, generic responses from Pornhub.
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Earlier this year, Nicol spoke to Sky Sports about her ordeal, saying she suffered emotional and physical distress.
After stopping eating and drinking, doctors told her she was just one kilogram away from risking organ failure.
She said: "The sickness was extreme. It was a mixture between having a panic attack and being sick. It got to the point where there was nothing to sick up and that went on for weeks.
"When I take myself back to that place, I can still feel the sickness in my tummy.
"It was a vicious cycle. There was never a point where I was sitting there and feeling calm. There was always some form of emotion, whether it was sickness, anxiety, sadness or tears.
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"It was absolutely atrocious.
"I still suffer with anxiety. I still have moments where I cannot get out of bed. It could be something so stupid that triggers me and puts me in a bad place again."
In a statement provided to LADbible, Pornhub said: "Pornhub is currently reviewing and investigating the complaint filed today in California. Pornhub has zero tolerance for illegal content and investigates any complaint or allegation made about content on our platforms."
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The statement continued: "We stand resolutely with all victims of internet-related abuse. Pornhub takes every complaint regarding the abuse of its platform seriously, including those of the plaintiffs in this case.
"Pornhub has in place the most comprehensive safeguards in user-generated platform history, which include the banning of uploads from unverified users, expanding our moderation processes, and cooperating with dozens of non-profit organisations around the world."
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Leigh NicolTopics: SPORT, UK News, News, Football, PornHub