Warning: This article discusses cyberbullying and suicide and features language that may upset some readers.
One of the women who competed for Matt Agnew's heart on The Bachelor Australia in 2019 has shared a horrifyingly violent death threat sent to her via an audio clip.
In a series of Instagram posts, Abbie Chatfield revealed the voice note was just one of the hundreds of abusive messages she's received over the last year since she appeared on the reality TV show.
In the explicit clip, a man's voice can be heard using a variety of slurs before saying: "If I ever got the chance, I'd f**king strangle you to death."
Other communications shared by Chatfield included a message from one person who said they "didn't know how her family stands her" adding: "I'd kill myself if I was related to you".
Another told Chatfield to "put a bag over her head in public", saying "all of Australia is laughing at you and how pathetic you are".
There were several more death wishes included in the 10 messages Chatfield shared. In her caption, the podcast host called out cyberbullies, saying the messages had made her fear for her life - at one point having been scared to be recognised in public.
"F**k this. F**k these people. F**k you if you've ever messaged anyone something even close to this. This is why people commit suicide after being catapulted into the spotlight by a TV show," she wrote.
Chatfield said she was grateful for her time on The Bachelor, but that reality TV participants did not deserve that level of abuse.
"Threats of violence, name-calling, threats to my safety and general snide comments still happen a year on," Chatfield continued.
"You think these accounts are just fake accounts? No. These are people's parents, daughters, friends. Most of the accounts are people who have a seemingly normal social media presence.
"One sent message may help with your crippling insecurity and help you project, but your message is a droplet in a waterfall of insidious online torture."
Chatfield said she did not blur the names of the accounts on the screenshots she shared, reasoning "if you're brave enough to send it via a DM, be brave enough for everyone to see".
"This isn't a joke. This isn't f**king funny and this isn't fair. I shouldn't be falling asleep worried someone will break into my apartment and strangle me," she said.
