Social media influencer GK Barry bravely recalls being raped at 17

Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.

TV star and TikToker GK Barry has opened up about being raped as a teenager.

The 27-year-old media personality, who appeared on the ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2024, took to Instagram on Sunday (30 August) to speak up about the incident.

Sharing a cover image of The Sun's Fabulous magazine, GK Barry, whose real name is Grace Keeling, wrote in the caption: "This is the first time I’ve spoken about a chapter in my book that I’ve never shared publicly before.

"When I was 17, I was raped, and I’ve spent the last 10 years not telling anyone out of fear."

Keeling, who also became the youngest regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, continued: "I have been extremely nervous about speaking about this and for a long time tried to push it to one side and not think about it, but I hope by speaking about it it might help others to know they can too, and it wasn’t their fault.

"I also hope this can help other people not be in the same situation that I was in."

She concluded: "I’ve been speaking with an amazing charity, Rape Crisis, who I wish I’d known about at the time. They offer 24/7 support and advice if anyone needs it."

In the interview with Fabulous, Keeling said she had planned never to discuss the assault.

But after learning that one in four women have been raped or sexually assaulted from the age of 16, she decided to write about it in her new book, It’s Giving Life: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving, hoping it will help others feel less alone.

"Until now, only five people knew about this, including my mum, dad and girlfriend [Ella Rutherford, 26]. I was never planning to write about it, but I realised it was really important," she shared.

"My audience is young, and if sharing this helps even one of them, then it will be worth it. Hopefully, if they are ever in a situation like I was, they will be able to say no. Sadly, I know plenty of women have stories like this, and I want them to know it’s not their fault and that they didn’t do anything wrong.

"I always thought rape was someone in a dark alleyway jumping out at you – but it wasn’t like that at all."

During her second year of college, the man she was reporting to, who was around 10 years older, offered her a lift to work. Instead, she said he drove her to a deserted park and demanded oral sex.

"I didn’t know what else to do except go along with what he was telling me. Resisting or fighting back felt like it might make things worse. There was never a moment in my mind where I thought I could say no to what was happening. I was only 17 and scared. I wasn’t able to process the situation and think logically," the podcaster admitted.

On her final day, she said he locked her in a room and sexually assaulted her.

"Rape. It’s taken me 10 years to realise that’s what it was," GK Barry said.

Keeling kept the assault secret for a year before reporting it after learning another student would be working with the same man. She said she was offered little support and has never had therapy, though telling those close to her, including girlfriend Ella, helped.

"I know now he had a position of power. He was significantly older than me. I have come to terms with the fact it was really [expletive] up, and he shouldn’t have done it," she concluded, adding that she hopes speaking out will reassure others that what happened to them is not their fault.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.