Charleen Murphy will speak out about being attacked

The influencer will speak out about being attacked by a man who was harassing her online. The incident took place in a Dublin restaurant in November 2023.

Tonight's Prime Time will host a special programme focusing on the impact on young Irish people of online influencers who promote a negative form of masculinity.

The programme will reveal research carried out over the last number of months by RTÉ journalists Kate McDonald and Jack McCarron, as well as current insights from teachers, experts, and individuals who have been personally affected.

Among those featured is Charleen Murphy, an Irish lifestyle influencer who explains the real-world impact.

Following an attack in Dublin in 2023, Charleen Murphy has been raising awareness about the dangers of online negative masculinity.

In an interview in Thursday night’s programme, Charleen recounts how she was attacked in a Dublin restaurant by a man who had previously repeatedly messaged her on social media.

“I just felt this blow to the back of my head, my head basically went so full force forward into my glass that the glass completely shattered…”

“I looked to my left, and I could see him standing there. Straight away, I knew who it was… He had been messaging me in the past online,” she told RTÉ journalist Kate McDonald.

Charleen says the experience is part of a larger pattern of online abuse she has encountered over the years.

The influencer also speaks about the risk of downplaying online misogyny.

"When I came out with the story that time, people said, ‘You’re not a real victim.’ They downplay your pain or trauma.

"You don’t have to have something worse than someone else to still have gone through something bad."

The programme explores how online narratives are increasingly shaping young people's views on gender roles in society, something Charleen has also noticed:

"It’s happening much younger. People have these words and this information so young. Their brains are being shaped by it all. It’s scary. I’m scared for the younger generation."

She explained that online misogyny has a larger impact on society.

"People think it’s just a comment. But kids are reading that. That’s saying to them, ‘It’s okay for me to post this too.’ All the little things turn into the big things.”

Watch the full programme on Prime Time tonight May 22nd, at 9:35pm RTÉ One. You can also watch on the RTÉ Player.