The founder of a nonprofit that organized a series of rallies against male violence claims A Current Affair arrived at the shelter for domestic violence victims where she is hiding after “nearly losing her life.”
Sarah Williams, the founder of What Were You Wearing, claimed on social media on Tuesday night that the Channel Nine program sent a journalist and a camera crew to the domestic abuse safe house where she was hiding. Williams called the experience “deeply upsetting.”
This year she made headlines at an anti-violence protest she organised in Canberra demanding action from the federal government.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the crowd that he had initially been asked not to speak, prompting Williams to say that was “an outright lie” and begin to cry.
The 23-year-old woman said she has been a victim of domestic, family and sexual violence and that she has “never been more afraid for her safety” than on Tuesday, when she .
“Today a reporter and camera crew came to the house I’ve been hiding 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 for domestic violence,” Williams shared on Instagram.
‘I didn’t think it could get any worse. I didn’t think I could witness any more unethical journalism after a journalist contacted my perpetrators earlier this year.
‘Today, in a single, terrifying moment, the place that should have kept me safe was taken from me.’
Ms Williams (pictured) posted a message on Instagram claiming that A Current Affair sent a journalist and camera crew to the shelter for domestic violence victims where she lives
‘I have never been so afraid for my safety. My right to consent was denied, my ‘no’s’, ‘stop’s’ and ‘please go away’s’ were ignored.
Ms Williams, an Aboriginal woman, claimed the journalists and crew “didn’t care” when she repeatedly expressed her discomfort at having three non-Aboriginal people – two of whom were men – “turn up at her house”.
“To them I was not a person, I was just a story,” she wrote.
“I’ve emphasized that you can’t just show up at a victim-survivor’s home, where they live, and aggressively confront them. That’s extremely unethical.”
She called it a “violation of the safety and trust she has fought so hard to rebuild.”
‘Just by showing up at my home, a place meant to protect me, my privacy was violated and I was reminded of the powerlessness I had endured. It re-traumatized me and reopened wounds I had worked tirelessly to heal.
“No survivor should ever 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 revealing where she lives”.
People have responded en masse to the comments, calling on A Current Affair to do better.
“This is absolutely terrifying. People really don’t realize how far back this can take survivors in their trauma, let alone the danger it puts them in compared to others,” one said.
“Your blatant disregard for victim support and safety has been noted!” wrote another, tagged A Current Affair.
Ms Williams wrote in the social media post (pictured) that her safety and privacy were breached as a result of the actions she alleges were carried out by A Current Affair
Another accused A Current Affair of deleting their critical comments about the alleged incident.
The alleged incident came just over a month after Williams organized a second round of nationwide protests against male violence.
She told NewsWire at the time that she was deeply concerned about the number of women being killed by violence committed primarily by men.
According to Sherele Moody’s femicide watch, 58 women have died this year due to violence, mainly committed by men.
“One (death) is more than enough, but if we continue like this, the number will double by the end of the year,” Williams said in July, when the toll stood at 54.
Ms Williams (pictured far right next to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a meeting in February) said she repeatedly told the reporter and camera crew she was uncomfortable with them appearing at her home.
‘Not enough is being done.’
NCA NewsWire has learned that the address visited was the registered business address of the woman whose story they were investigating, and that nothing is being broadcast at this time.
NewsWire was also told that the journalists were located five addresses below the registered address.
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that A Current Affair “did not go to Ms Williams’ safe house or access any of the properties where she is hiding”.
“We approached Ms. Williams on the street, some distance from the address listed in the public registry as her business address,” the spokesperson said.
“Our program has a strong and determined history of telling the stories of victims of domestic violence and advocating for safe spaces for victims.”
These accusations are unfounded. The story will air on Monday.