GK Barry has said it took her 10 years to recognise that police were “really wrong” to discourage her from reporting an alleged rape when she was 17.
The social media star, whose real name is Grace Keeling, discussed the experience on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson, released on Tuesday, September 1.
Keeling said she was raped by an older man while undertaking a week of work experience during her second year at college. She had been reporting to him when, she said, he drove her to a deserted park instead of taking her to work and demanded oral sex.
She continued with the placement, which she described as a crucial opportunity, but said the man later sent other members of staff home, locked her in a room and raped her.
Keeling did not tell anyone what had happened until the following year, when she confided in a teacher after learning that another student was due to undertake the same placement. Police were contacted, but she said the case was dismissed because of a lack of evidence.
Recalling her contact with a female police officer, Keeling said she was told that, because the incident had not been reported at the time and she had admitted flirting with the man initially, there was “no point” in making a report.
She said the officer advised her that it was her choice but that, if she were in the same position, she would not report it.
“It’s taken me this long to fully be like, no, that was actually really wrong,” Keeling said, describing the time it had taken her to understand what had happened and to stop blaming herself.
The 27-year-old has since spoken publicly about the assault, saying she hopes doing so will help other victims understand that what happened to them was not their fault.
She has also written about the experience in her forthcoming book, It’s Giving Life: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving, and has said she is receiving support from Rape Crisis.
