A nude photograph of the TV presenter Gail Porter that was projected onto the House of Commons in 1999 led her to being stalked, she has claimed.
The Scottish personality, who is currently appearing in a stand-up comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe, was shot to fame in the Nineties, presenting shows including Top of the Pops and gracing the covers of numerous men’s magazines of the era. Her fame peaked in 1999 when a nude photo she had taken for FHM Magazine was projected – without her permission – onto the exterior of the House of Commons.
In a new interview, Porter expressed frustration with the stunt, and how she had to deal with the consequences.
“They left me with the aftermath,” she told The Times. “There’s lots of stuff people don’t know. I had stalkers. My flat was broken into, people did disgusting things in my flat and stole my underwear.”
She continued: “I had to leave my flat. And I got all the flak. Everyone was like, ‘You must have been in on it’. I had no idea. So much stuff that happened after that and I never heard another word from FHM.”
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open image in galleryIn 2024 she told The Guardian that the stunt made her uncomfortable being in public.
“I got scared of going out because lots of lads stopped me in the street going, ‘Weyheyhey!’” she explained. “I tried not to go out at night because of drunk people coming up to you going: ‘I’ve seen your arse.’ It was quite lechy.”
The 55-year-old has been open about her struggles in the years since, which have included mental illness and periods of homelessness. In 2004 she was diagnosed with the condition alopecia, after her hair began to fall out.
Her comedy show at the Fringe, titled Portergeist, tackles much of her past, and her survival in the entertainment industry.
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Last month Porter revealed she sustained cuts and bruises after being knocked over at a London tube station – while condemning “keyboard warriors” who’d criticised her appearance.
Porter posted photos of her injuries to her Instagram, explaining that she had a “wee accident” the week before attending the press night of Trainspotting the Musical, where she appeared on the red carpet with covered-up bruises.
open image in galleryIt was unclear where Porter had seen abuse about her appearance, but she wrote in a social media post: “To all you wonderful keyboard warriors that said I’m looking old, and saying something was wrong with my face… I went to Trainspotting the Musical to support my friends that created this. Last week I was knocked over while going down the stairs at a London Tube Station. It was just a wee accident on the stairs. Nothing intentional!”
Porter then shared a selfie taken on the night of the Trainspotting event, writing: “I’m a wee Scottish Warrior. Just always look out for each other. Simple x. And good concealer!!!”
Gail Porter: Portergeist is running at the Edinburgh Fringe until 30 August.