The founder of a nonprofit that has held a series of protests against domestic violence says A Current Affair showed up at the domestic violence shelter she is hiding in after “almost losing her life.”
What Were You Wearing founder Sarah Williams took to social media on Tuesday night to claim the Channel Nine show sent a journalist and camera crew to the DV safe house she has been hiding in, calling the experience “deeply triggering”.
This year she made headlines for an anti-violence protest in Canberra that she herself had organised to demand action from the federal government.
Premier Anthony Albanese Albanese told the crowd he had initially been asked not to speak, prompting Ms Williams to say that was “an outright lie” as she began to cry.
The 23-year-old said she is a victim of domestic, family and sexual violence and that she has “never been more afraid for her safety” than on Tuesday, when…
“Today, a reporter and camera crew showed up at the house I’ve been hiding out in since I nearly lost my life to domestic violence in 2021. This is the only place I’ve ever felt safe, a house I was placed in specifically to protect me from domestic violence,” Williams shared on Instagram.
‘I didn’t think it could get any worse; I didn’t think I could experience more unethical journalism after a journalist already contacted my attackers earlier this year.
“Today, in a single, terrifying moment, the place that was supposed to keep me safe was taken away from me.”
Ms Williams (pictured) posted on Instagram to claim that A Current Affair sent a journalist and camera crew to the domestic violence safe house she has been living in.
“I have never been so afraid for my safety. I was denied my right to give consent, my ‘no’s’, ‘stop’s’ and ‘please leave’s’ ignored.
Ms Williams, an Aboriginal woman, said reporters and crew “didn’t care” when she repeatedly told them she was uncomfortable with three non-Aboriginal people, two of them men, “showing up at (her) house”.
“For them I was not a human being, I was just a story,” he wrote.
“I stressed to them that you cannot simply show up at a victim-survivor’s home, where they live, and aggressively confront them. It is extremely unethical.”
She continued, calling it a “breach of the safety and trust she fought so hard to rebuild.”
‘The mere fact that they showed up in my home, a place that is supposed to protect me, was a violation of my privacy and a reminder of the helplessness I have endured. It re-traumatized me, reopening wounds that I have worked tirelessly to heal.
“No survivor should have to relive their trauma because of unethical actions like this.”
Ms Williams asked A Current Affair to “leave her alone” and not put her in “further danger by sharing with the public where she lives”.
People have taken to the comments to ask A Current Affair to do better.
“This is absolutely terrifying and people don’t really realise how far this can take survivors back into their trauma, let alone the danger it puts them in from others,” one commented.
“Your blatant disregard for supporting victims and keeping them safe is evident!” wrote another, tagging A Current Affair.
Ms Williams wrote in the social media post (pictured) that her safety and privacy were violated as a result of actions she claims were carried out by A Current Affair.
Another accused A Current Affair of deleting his critical comments about the alleged incident.
The alleged incident comes just over a month after Williams organised a second round of national protests against gender-based violence.
At the time, she told NewsWire she was deeply concerned about the rate at which women are being killed by predominantly male violence.
According to Sherele Moody’s Femicide Watch report, 58 women have been murdered this year due to predominantly male violence.
“One (death) is more than enough, but if we continue at this rate they will double by the end of the year,” Williams said in July, when the number was 54.
Ms Williams (pictured right alongside Premier Anthony Albanese at a rally in February) said she repeatedly told the journalist and film crew she was not comfortable with them appearing at her home.
“Not enough is being done”
NCA NewsWire has been told the address they attended was the registered business address of the woman whose story they were investigating, and nothing will be aired at this stage.
NewsWire was also told that the journalists were five addresses down from their registered address.
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that A Current Affair “did not attend Ms Williams’ safe house or enter any property she is hiding in”.
“We approached Ms. Williams on the street, some distance from the address provided in the public record as her business address,” the spokesman said.
‘Our programme has a strong and determined track record in telling the stories of victims of domestic violence and in campaigning strongly for safe spaces for victims.’
‘These accusations are unfounded. The story will air on Monday.
