'I didn't know removing condom during sex was rape', says Love Island star

Megan Barton-Hanson, a former contestant on the popular reality show Love Island, recently opened up about a troubling experience she had regarding a practice known as 'stealthing. ' This term refers to the act of removing a condom during consensual sex without informing the other partner. Megan described her realization as 'shocking,' as she learned that this act is legally classified as rape. She recounted her own experiences, stating that she had encountered this situation up to six times, with the man involved claiming that the condom had split each time. This led to her having to undergo an abortion, and she expressed her disbelief by saying, 'I didn't know it was a crime. ' Megan had always thought that such matters were something that partners should discuss openly, but she was unaware of the serious implications of stealthing. During a recording of the We Need to Talk podcast, host Paul C Brunson informed her that the actions of the man she was with constituted rape. 'I'd never heard of stealthing, ever,' she admitted. 'When we started to have sex, the condom was obviously on - that was fine - and then at the end, he'd removed it intentionally but his excuse was 'it split and it broke. ' It was shocking. ' The Metropolitan Police have acknowledged that while 'stealthing' is a slang term, it is legally recognized as rape. Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize that this behavior is an offense. A survey conducted in October revealed that just over one in ten people aged 18-25 did not consider the non-consensual removal of a condom to be sexual assault. Andrea Simon, the executive director of End Violence Against Women and Girls, emphasized that even if sexual activity begins with consent, if one partner violates that consent by removing a condom, it is classified as rape and can be prosecuted as such. She pointed out that it is difficult to determine how common stealthing is, as many people may not recognize it as an act of sexual violence or a crime. It is crucial for men, in particular, to understand that intentionally removing a condom during sex without consent is criminal behavior. This issue reflects a broader societal problem regarding men's entitlement over women's bodies and the violation of women's autonomy. The topic of stealthing was also explored in the fourth episode of the BBC drama I May Destroy You, where the main character, Arabella, has a sexual encounter with a man who removes the condom without her knowledge. Arabella only realizes that she has been a victim of rape after hearing it discussed on a podcast. Ciara Bergman, the chief executive of Rape Crisis England and Wales, stated that stealthing is indeed a form of rape under English and Welsh law. If someone has consented to sex on the condition that a condom will be used, and the condom is removed without their knowledge or permission, then consent for sex is lost. Megan's advice to anyone who may have concerns about their own experiences is straightforward. She encourages individuals to speak up if they notice any red flags or have suspicions. 'Tell a friend, tell someone, and then you can go together and share to the police,' she said. 'You don't have to make it a big old deal; you can call from the comfort of your own home, but I think definitely reach out to somebody because it's not fair and it's not OK.