The Block 2021 “villain” Tanya Guccione has highlighted the damage of online trolling as the hit renovation show comes under fire for another season of unfair portrayals.
Last year’s season of The Block had fans tuning in from the edge of their seats after Tanya and her husband, Vito, were found at the centre of the show’s “biggest ever cheating scandal”.
At the time, the 40-year-old was relentlessly vilified for taking a photo of the show’s embargoed production schedule.
Now, in a candid chat with the So Dramatic! podcast host, Megan Pustetto, Tanya revealed the devastating extent to which she was trolled online as a result of the faux pas.
**CONTENT WARNING: The following discusses suicide and sexual assault and may be distressing to some readers.
“The trolling for us, it was on another level,” she confessed. “We had death threats… literally over a photo.
“I was like, so what you’re saying is that because I took a photo, I deserved to die. It was a lot.”
On top of death threats — some of which were mailed to her home — the mum of two said she was also threatened with rape.
“I got threats of rape by people, like so disgusting and so vile,” Tanya continued.
The Melbourne makeup artist then said the show “is a lot to go through” when you’re unprepared for the backlash.
“You got from being literally just an average, everyday person… to being [thrust] into the limelight and being vilified.”
Tanya Guccione Reveals the “Most Traumatic” Thing She’s Learned Since The Block 2021
However, the former The Block contestant said the “most traumatic and surprising thing” she learned from her time on the show was how common threats of this nature are among celebrities.
“Once I’d spoken to other TV celebrities, they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, we get that too’,” she recalled. “Are you kidding? Why don’t people talk about this part of it?
“Something has to change in this trolling, death threat behaviour because it’s just not okay. It’s not freaking okay.”
As the show unfolded, Tanya said she felt like she was stuck in a “bubble” with no way out, and has found the same to be true for this year’s “villain”, Sharon Johal.
“I can see it happened to Sharon and she said to me recently, ‘Oh I was fully in the bubble, I couldn’t see past this bubble’,” she admitted. “You just can’t think straight.
“You’re saying stuff, you’re in fight or flight mode the whole time. It’s just so difficult to navigate and to even know what the right thing is to do.
“I mean, I was mad, I look at myself and like, ‘I hate you’. You hate the person you are on that show.”
Tanya’s call to action comes as Sharon and her husband, Ankur Dogra, continue to face mass scrutiny online.
Tanya Guccione Previously Spoke Out Against Those Trolling Sharon Johal and Ankur Dogra
The former Neighbours actress and the accountant were dubbed “cheaters” after a tense wine-tasting challenge, and have since copped a barrage of hate for being “lazy” competitors.
However, Sharon found an ally in fellow villain Tanya on August 31 after posing with her pup on Instagram.
“In non-fake/edited happier news: this!” Sharon wrote in the caption.
She explained why the Instagram comments were “turned off” on The Block-focused Instagram account she shares with Ankur.
“We don’t feel like being threatened over a reality tv show. Cheers for the #villianedit mates,” the 34-year-old said.
Despite their noticeably different controversies, Tanya shared her support for the actress.
“I see u, [sic] girl! And I’m here with you cheering you both on! Hold your head up high,” the makeup artist commented on the post.
The Block 2020’s Daniel and Jade also rallied behind Sharon, writing: “Hey beautiful! You got this, and we got you! Head up and soldier on!”
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual assault, please contact the Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence National Help Line on 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) or head to The Australian Human Rights Commission for a list of state by state resources.
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