Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has called out paparazzi for “abuse of privacy” and urged media to show more “decency and respect” after a tense encounter outside a Sydney cafe.
Tame was eating at an outdoor table at Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore in Bondi on Thursday when photographers parked their cameras metres from the 29-year-old.
Video of the exchange shows at least two large lenses taking rapid-fire shots of Tame, who was dressed casually in a black jumper and sitting opposite a colleague.
Tame approached the male photographers and questioned why they were taking pictures, reminding them she was a survivor of child sexual abuse.
“Why are you taking my picture,” she asked.
“Because you are in a public place,” the photographer responded.
“I’m not working right now,” Tame continued.
“Do you understand I’m an advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse? I’m not a media figure for good reason.
“The whole point of what I do is to try and call out this sort of abuse of somebody’s privacy and agency and you’re just recreating that dynamic.”
The photographers were undeterred and responded to Tame by pointing out that she was in a public place.
“Do you know what public means, the word public is?” one retorted.
Tame replied: “Yes, but I didn’t choose to be in the public eye.
“I am in a public place but are you taking photos of anybody else here?
“This is not right, what you’re doing.
She stated: “I am okay, but this is not right. You need to back off.”
Tame is an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual assault for which she was named Australian of the Year in 2021.
From age 15, she was groomed and raped by her 58-year-old maths teacher, who was found guilty and jailed for his crimes.
She has used her voice to push for legal reform and raise public awareness about the impacts of sexual violence.
The cafe’s owner and other diners came to Tame’s defence as the photographers stood their ground.
The activist then declared, “I am calling the police” and reported the encounter while standing on the sidewalk.
‘Not a pop star’
Later, Tame took to social media to blast the “absolute scumbags taking pictures of me and my colleague without our permission”.
“I’m an advocate for survivors of abuse, not a pop star. Show some decency and respect. If not for me, then for yourselves,” she wrote.
“Just because I’m in a public place, doesn’t mean you’re entitled to any piece of me or anyone else. I’ve reported you and your partner to police.
“After repeated requests from both myself, fellow café patrons, and the owner of the premises, both of these ‘men’ refused to leave. Instead they continued filming.
“I’m sure they’re delighted with the images of me that they captured while I was justifiably giving them a serve for their abhorrent actions, but I’m not ashamed of my anger. The shame lies solely with them.”
