Drake isn’t a ‘legend’ for his leaked sex tape – he’s a victim | Victoria Richards

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If you were to inquire of any female how she would respond to the release of a video featuring her engaging in sexual activity, whether it be solo or with a partner, on the world wide web, there is no doubt in my mind that the response would be one of surprise, disgust, and shame. As a woman who happens to be on a public transportation vehicle reading an article regarding Drake, I can attest to this myself, anticipating that my fellow commuters don't look over my shoulder.

If you were to inquire with a female about how she would respond to a fake leaked tape – like Taylor Swift, who was recently "deepfaked" using AI – I could accurately anticipate her reaction right away: surprise, terror, and embarrassment.

Speak to any woman, including those who have won legal battles against online abuse - like Georgia Harrison, for example. She has publicly shared her ordeal of being a victim of revenge porn by her ex-partner Stephen Bear, who was ultimately imprisoned, and she will confirm that the experience was shocking, dreadful, and embarrassing.

If you were to ask a woman who has previously sent intimate visuals to an ex-partner, but is unsure if they are still in possession of them or have deleted them, you would likely hear about the intense feelings of surprise, terror, and embarrassment.

Considering all of this, let's focus on Drake. The hip hop artist has been caught up in a scandal involving a leaked sex tape. The video shows him allegedly masturbating and was uploaded onto X, which used to be called Twitter.

Drake's acquaintance, popular streamer Adin Ross, who featured in some of the rapper's videos, sent him an audio message relating to the video. It's possible that I would take similar actions if one of my female friends found themselves in a similar dire circumstance.

However, in the video that was shared on social media, Ross can be heard saying: "We were simply observing the situation. It's utterly insane, my friend. Unbelievable."

You have been endowed with a magnificent vocal ability, you have been granted the opportunity to showcase your talent on stage, you are fortunate to be unique, you have been favored to come out on top, and you also possess an incredibly powerful weapon.

Ross reported that Drake didn't show any signs of surprise, terror, or embarrassment in his public reaction. Instead, he used eight laughing emojis and even suggested that he might utilize the streamer's voice note as the beginning of his next album.

It is necessary to note that we cannot accurately determine Drake's thoughts about the alleged leak because he has not addressed it publicly. However, the varying responses from his crew unsettle me. Additionally, online conversations are being held where some claim that Drake should not be bothered as the leaked video was flattering. On the other hand, others speculate that he purposely leaked it for publicity.

This reminds me of how men and women have completely different experiences when navigating the online world. Drake receives heaps of praise and is revered as some sort of hero, but his body is often subject to scrutiny. Despite this, he should still be considered a victim who deserves compassion and sensitivity.

If everyone were treated the same, we would all react to this "leak" with shock, horror, and embarrassment. Unfortunately, when a man is the one responsible, some people find it amusing and even commend him for it, which says a lot about our attitudes towards male and female sexuality. When a man is sexually confident, he's considered impressive, but when a woman does the same, she's insulted and belittled with words we won't even mention here. However, both positions are equally damaging.

This place is equally dangerous, and in my opinion, it is a stance that could jeopardize the safety of both males and females.

If these types of events are not acknowledged as serious and the harm they cause is not recognized, we run the risk of dismissing the experiences of men who have been victims of revenge porn. It is important to note that sharing non-consensual sexual images is illegal in the UK according to the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, but the laws in the US may vary by state and situation. By disregarding these issues, we undermine men's ability to provide informed consent and to openly discuss their trauma resulting from these events.

Furthermore, this has a ripple effect on women as well. The act of minimizing Drake's experience could potentially convey the message that women are exaggerating when they experience violations, whether it be in similar ways or even with AI. It instills the notion that these incidents should be shrugged off, that they aren't a big deal, and that they are merely "locker-room talk" or harmless "jokes."

The situation is serious and shouldn't be dismissed as harmless teasing. We need to acknowledge that Drake is a victim in this case, as his privacy and consent were violated. Joking about it with emojis is inappropriate.