Influencer Chris Olsen Opens Up About the Emotional Impact of Non-Consensual Intimate Photos Shared Online

"I don’t want these things to circulate anymore and I hope that’s enough,” the influencer said in a recent video.

Aug 16, 2024

"I don’t want these things to circulate anymore and I hope that’s enough,” the influencer said in a recent video.

In a heartfelt TikTok video posted on August 10, influencer Chris Olsen shared his distress over intimate photos and videos of him circulating online without his consent. Olsen, visibly emotional, pleaded with viewers to stop spreading these images, which he never agreed to share.

“I created these photos of my own accord and must accept that I didn’t say no at the time. But today, I’m saying no. I don’t want these images to keep circulating, and I hope that’s enough,” Olsen expressed in the video.

He then recounted how the photos came to be. After entering rehab and achieving sobriety at 19, Olsen began feeling more confident in his appearance. This newfound confidence led him to collaborate with various photographers.

“When I got sober, I lost weight, started working out, and for the first time, felt good about my physical appearance. I frequently posted fitness photos, which helped me build a small following,” Olsen explained.

@chris Replying to @ara🧿 ♬ original sound - Chris Olsen

However, things took a troubling turn when one photographer “crossed the line.”

“When we first worked together, he had me sign a release for the photos, claiming it was standard procedure. Being 19 and unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, I complied without fully understanding what I was agreeing to,” Olsen said. “I didn’t say no. The photos were taken during multiple shoots, and I allowed it. He then posted them on a paid platform, where people screenshotted and shared them widely.”

Olsen first addressed the issue publicly in a July TikTok video. Since opening up, he has received support from many friends and followers, including Meghan Trainor and her husband, Daryl Sabara.

Who Is Chris Olsen?

Chris Olsen, 26, is a popular influencer with 13 million TikTok followers. He gained fame in 2020 by posting videos about quarantining with his then-boyfriend. As his audience grew, Olsen became known for sharing candid videos about his mental health, addiction recovery, and childhood trauma.

He even shared his online therapy sessions on TikTok, which resonated deeply with his followers. “My therapy videos really took off, and I received countless messages from people saying they started therapy because of them,” Olsen told People in 2022.

Olsen, who holds a degree in musical theater from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, launched his acting career in 2022 with a role in the Discovery+ miniseries “The Book of Queer.” He also appeared in the 2024 film “Mean Girls.”

Olsen is also recognized for his close friendship with Meghan Trainor and has appeared in two of her music videos, “Made You Look” in 2022 and “To the Moon” in 2024.

In 2023, Olsen founded a coffee brand, Flight Fuel Coffee, inspired partly by his viral videos of delivering coffee to celebrities worldwide.

Chris Olsen's Experience with Leaked Images and Videos

In a TikTok video posted on July 23, Olsen revealed that explicit images of him had been shared online without his consent. He explained that this issue first arose four years ago, but he had been hesitant to address it publicly until now.

@chris

maybe think twice !

♬ original sound - Chris Olsen

“This isn’t something I want to discuss, but I feel like I have no choice,” Olsen said.

Olsen explained that the situation began when someone shared an intimate photo of him on X (formerly known as Twitter). At the time, Olsen didn’t have an account on the platform, so he created one to ask the person to remove the photo. Instead, the user blocked him and tweeted, “In 30 minutes, I’m taking Chris’ photos down, so download them now.”

“I knew then that it was over,” Olsen shared in his July video. “That was four years ago, and I’m still dealing with it. It’s nonconsensual. It’s violating.”

In his August 10 video, Olsen elaborated on his experience at 19 with a photographer who crossed boundaries.

“He essentially made me undress,” Olsen recounted. “I don’t want to go into too many details as it’s still triggering for me and could be for others. But what happened wasn’t consensual, and I didn’t know how to say no because I didn’t know how to stand up for myself. Sometimes, I still struggle with that.”

Olsen acknowledged that while he “never said no” to participating in the videos, he urged his followers to consider the context in which they were created.

“I was desperate for validation on my own terms. There are videos of me circulating where I’m seeking that validation. But I was only 19 or 20 years old in those videos,” he said. “I made them willingly, and I must accept that I didn’t say no. But today, I’m saying no. I don’t want these things to circulate anymore, and I hope that’s enough.”

“I know it might not be, and I know I have to accept responsibility for making them, but I’m in the process of forgiving myself, and I hope you can forgive me too,” he added.

Meghan Trainor's Support for Chris Olsen

In August, Meghan Trainor stood by Olsen as he faced online bullying after sharing his experiences.

The “Made You Look” singer, 30, posted a TikTok video where she playfully rolled her eyes, blew a kiss, and waved goodbye. “Me saying bye & blocking anyone who’s mean to MY best friend,” read the text on the video. She captioned it, “@Chris Olsen I LOVE YOU.”

Trainor’s husband, Daryl Sabara, also expressed support for Olsen on TikTok, sharing a video where he wrote, “POV trying to hype Chris Olsen up against the bullies but I go a little too hard.”

Olsen and Trainor’s friendship dates back to at least 2022 when he appeared on her podcast, “Workin’ On It.” Their bond grew stronger as they created TikTok videos together, and Trainor officially brought Olsen onto her team.

Despite their professional collaboration, Olsen has said that his connection with Trainor goes much deeper. “Even if we never talked about working together, we’d still hang out the way we do,” he told E! News in 2023. “I truly love her. I’ve vacationed with her family, and we’re about to go on another trip together. Our relationship is much more than just work.”

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