TikTok users sound alarm on disturbing video that declares April 24 ‘National Rape Day’
By Brandon Sapienza
New York Daily News
April 19, 2021
Agitated users of TikTok are sounding the alarm, warning that an appalling video on the social media platform dubbed April 24 “National Rape Day.”
The furor has escalated despite the fact that the video in question
cannot be found, even by TikTok’s head office itself. Police in at least
one town are warning residents to be on alert.
“So I literally just saw a video on TikTok, and I had to make a video myself because most of my followers are women and I need to make sure you guys are aware,” a TikTok user with the handle @la.tania.ftn2 warned in her video with over 1.5 million views.
She goes on to say, “This is a video going around on TikTok of disgusting men — rapists, child molesters, predators, just disgusting human beings — and they literally came up with a date to go around and rape women and children. You literally heard me right: women and children.”
When asked about the viral post, a spokesperson for TikTok told the Daily News, “The supposed ‘National Rape Day’ trend being reported upon is abhorrent and would be a direct violation of our Community Guidelines, and while we haven’t seen evidence of this trending on our platform, our safety team remains vigilant and would remove any such content.”
They also added that any “content that promotes, normalizes or glorifies non-consensual sexual acts or non-consensual touching, including rape and sexual assault, are strictly prohibited and promptly removed.”
At least one police department has reacted to the supposed threat. The Taylorville Police Department in Illinois issued a warning to the public, according to NBC-affiliated television station WAND, saying they are aware of the TikTok video and offered safety tips for readers to follow to decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim. The tips included being alert of your surroundings and to yell “Fire!” if you need help.
The horrifying trend also caught the attention of RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), a nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization in the United States.
“Language that condones sexual assault is unacceptable and harmful to survivor,” said Heather Drevna, vice president of communications at RAINN, told The News. “Sexual assault is never something to joke about or make light of, and we are glad to see so many speaking out against it in response.”
TikTok is urging its users to report any video that contains anything regarding the glorification of sexual assault.
“Our safety team is remaining vigilant and we will remove content that violates our policies,” the TikTok spokesperson added. “To support survivors and educate our broader community, we’ve developed sexual assault resources with guidance from experts at RAINN.”
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