Tyrone May sex tape scandal victim speaks out

The woman secretly recorded in an NRL player’s sex tape has spoken publicly about the “traumatic” consequences of the scandal.

The woman recorded without her consent in Panthers player Tyrone May’s sex tape has spoken publicly for the first time after the scandal returned to headlines this month.

May last week deleted his Instagram account following backlash to a post that was widely interpreted to be a reference to the 2018 sex tape scandal, over which he pleaded guilty to four charges of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent.

May had earlier deleted the post, which was made during Penrith’s grand final victory celebrations.

The caption included lyrics from the song Fair Trade by Canadian rapper Drake.

“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it,” the caption read.

Now the victim featured in the video has spoken out to tell May to “wake up to yourself” after his deleted social media messages.

She told The Sydney Morning Herald the deleted post triggered panic attacks, which she says she has been having since the video spread across social media.

Ivan Cleary supports Tyrone May as he leaves Parramatta Local Court in Sydney, Friday, November 22, 2019. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Panthers Grand Final player Tyrone May and Ivan Cleary after the 2021 Grand Final.

“Definitely, there was a traumatic response, for sure, 100 per cent,” she said.

She has been working with a psychologist since the video was posted on social media and says she “walks around paranoid 24-7” fearing people recognise her from the video.

She says in the report she is still yet to receive a full apology from May.

“I’m pretty sure, when you see the way he’s acting, that he hasn’t learnt anything,” she said. “He is still in the exact same spot. Wake up to yourself. You need to learn.

“If I want to go and (have sex in private), that’s me. That shouldn’t be shown to the world. But unfortunately, it did. Now I struggle. I’ve had two relationships since then and I struggle to hold relationships because I have to be open and honest ... Once they find out, I can’t maintain a relationship because of it.”

Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo lifted the trophy just five days ago. Pics Adam Head.

May has had a tumultuous period following Penrith’s grand final win.

May was filmed using an offensive slur during teammate Viliame Kikau’s Instagram live Q+A.

Rumours also emerged that May is in a romantic relationship with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary’s daughter Indi after the pair were seen together in images they shared on Instagram.

In November 2019, May pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent. In January 2020, the magistrate slammed his “reprehensible” conduct as he was handed a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

“This behaviour is not only morally reprehensible, it’s criminal,” Magistrate Robyn Denes told Parramatta Local Court at the time of sentencing.

“Ultimately, this is an offence which takes what was consensual sexual acts to another level. It does breach trust.”