The chilling testimony of Maëva Coucke on the online harassment of which she was a victim

This Wednesday, January 22, in a new issue of In Olivier's eyes on France 2 devoted to cybersexism, Miss France Maëva Coucke gave a testimony on the online harassment of which she was the victim after her election.

In December 2017, Maëva Coucke emerged from anonymity when she was elected Miss France 2018 in front of more than 7 million viewers. A consecration, for the young woman then aged 23, which takes a particular turn when the evening ends. As soon as she returns to her hotel room and finds her smartphone, she discovers that her body is being trashed on social networks. “Broomstick, anorexic, breadboard… I find criticisms that I experienced when I was younger, but in college. Except that there are a lot of French people who come and criticize me”she tells journalist Olivier Delacroix in the show In Olivier's eyesdevoted to cybersexism and broadcast Wednesday January 22 on France 2 and an extract of which was published on YouTube. But the matter does not end there.

“Despicable and disgusting” : Maëva Coucke confides in the shocking photos she receives on social networks

Because these criticisms are only the starting point of incessant online harassment. When Maëva Coucke is not denigrated for her body or her morphology, she is the recipient of extremely shocking photos. “I have already received photos of men's private parts“sadly reveals Miss France 2018 in the show In Olivier's eyesbefore resuming. “I've had several, or it could be videos of a man doing the deed, masturbating… That, in particular, is almost vile and disgusting. We still have the impression of being objects.”she regrets to journalist Olivier Delacroix on France 2.

Maëva Coucke's take on online harassment

A testimony that sends shivers down your spine, but which it is essential not to pass over in silence. Because, as Maëva Coucke points out, the consequences of online harassment can be extremely serious. “Just because you're a public figure doesn't mean you have to accept criticism of all kinds. It's more and more violent. The more the years go by, the more people are connected. Some social networks try to moderate insults or other things as much as possible, because people kill themselves because they are harassed. Because of comments, because of bad words, people prefer not to be alive anymore”she laments. As a reminder, according to figures from the Ramsay Santé Corporate Foundation, harassment and social networks are the two main reasons for suicidal thoughts among young people under 25.