Drugged and kidnapped model says people still call her a liar years on

Chloe Ayling, a model, was kidnapped in 2017 after being lured to a fake photo shoot in Milan, Italy. She was held captive for six days before being released, but her struggles did not end there. Even after all these years, Chloe still faces accusations of lying about her experience. In an interview, she stated, 'Headlines really stick in people's minds, even years later,' highlighting the ongoing online abuse she receives from those who doubt her story. To share her truth, a new six-part BBC series titled 'Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story' has been created. This series is based on police interviews, court documents, and Chloe's personal accounts, although some scenes have been dramatized for effect. Chloe has worked closely with the show's writer, Georgia Lester, and the production team to ensure her story is told accurately. She expressed her desire for the facts to be presented clearly, saying, 'All I wanted was [the] facts to be laid out and everyone to know what actually happened. ' Chloe hopes that by sharing her experience, she can help others who have faced similar situations. She emphasizes the importance of not judging victims based on their reactions, stating, 'This should be a lesson for people not to judge victims based on the way they act or react. ' The actress Nadia Parkes portrays Chloe in the upcoming series, which is set to be released in August. Chloe's ordeal began in July 2017 when Lukasz Herba, the man who kidnapped her, tricked her into traveling to Italy. He drugged her and transported her in a holdall bag to a remote farmhouse, demanding a ransom of $300,000 for her release. After six days, he finally let her go at the British consulate in Milan. Upon returning to the UK, Chloe faced intense scrutiny and criticism. Many accused her of posing for the cameras and smiling, which led them to question her authenticity as a victim. Reflecting on the media frenzy, Chloe recalls, 'It was just so big and overpowering. It was blown out of proportion, there were things that were missed out and it was going in a direction that was not true. ' Regarding her smile upon returning home, she explained, 'That was genuinely how I was feeling at the time. I was happy to be home. I was happy this was over, so why shouldn't I be smiling? ' Even after Lukasz was convicted for her kidnapping, the doubts persisted. Chloe believes that her profession as a model influenced the way people perceived her. She stated, 'I do believe if my job was different, it wouldn't be the same reaction,' emphasizing that a victim's appearance or behavior should not determine their credibility. Following her kidnapping, Chloe published a book and participated in the reality show Celebrity Big Brother. Despite the backlash she received, she stands by her actions, saying, 'I was true to myself and did what I want[ed] to do, so I don't have any regrets. ' The BBC drama is being released at a time when Michal Herba, Lukasz's brother, has been released from prison. Michal was also involved in Chloe's abduction and had been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison, but his sentence was reduced after an appeal. Chloe expressed her frustration, stating, 'I think he should have been in prison for a lot longer. ' She added, 'The fact that they still don't take accountability and still want to make lies and not be responsible for what they did [is] even more annoying. ' Now, years after her abduction, Chloe is trying to move forward. She mentioned, 'I don't get flashbacks or anything like that,' but creating the drama required her to revisit her past experiences. 'I [had] to put myself back in that position to remember key details and how I felt at the time,' she explained. Georgia Lester, the writer of the series, believes that Chloe's story sheds light on how society treats victims, particularly women. She stated, 'I think the wider story here is about how we treat victims, specifically women,' and hopes the drama will encourage people to support and believe women who come forward with their stories. In July, a report highlighted the alarming rates of violence against women and girls, revealing that one in every 12 women will experience violence each year. Amanda Rowe, who leads efforts to combat violence against women, acknowledged that many individuals do not have positive experiences when reporting such crimes. 'Fear of being made to feel responsible for what has happened to them can put people off reporting these crimes,' she noted. Georgia expressed her anger upon learning about Chloe's treatment after her kidnapping and hopes the BBC drama will help vindicate Chloe in the eyes of those who judged her. Chloe concluded, 'I want the world to know that what I'm saying is true. ' The series 'Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story' will be available for viewing on August 14.