Daisy Coleman Talks About How #MeToo Movement Changed Her Life

In the year and a half since the #MeToo movement spread like wildfire over social media, Hollywood and the world at large has experienced monumental changes in the way our society handles sexual harassment and assault.

- Devon Preston

Thanks to high-profile stars like Alyssa Milano, Terry Crews, and the movement’s founder, Tarana Burke, people from all backgrounds, disciplines, and demographics found the courage to speak up about the traumas they’d experienced. However, years before the words #MeToo became mainstream, a 14-year-old girl faced a very different response from social media after coming forward with her assault story. Her name is Daisy Coleman and you may remember her from the Netflix documentary Audrie & Daisy.

Today, Daisy is working as a tattoo apprentice in Colorado, but her story is far from a happily ever after. Seven years after her story went public, she’s still working through layers of trauma and is ready to show her recovery process to the world through a new film project. This summer, Saving Daisy will hit theaters and give audiences an update on her recovery process. We had the pleasure of speaking to Daisy about her new venture and how her life has changed since her first documentary premiered in 2016.

EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF RAPE AND ASSAULT CASES ARE REPORTED. WHAT MADE YOUR STORY CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES?

I think what really made my case and story go viral is the time we were in as a culture. No one was talking about rape and assault, especially if it happened in high school. Not to mention, a lot of survivors came forward as Jane Does at the time.

I didn’t do that. I told the world my story and told them to do something about it; I challenged people’s morals and victimblaming mentalities. I didn’t shut up when people told me to.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN YOUR CASE AND MANY CALL YOUR STORY A “MODERN-DAY SCARLET LETTER.” HOW DID THE NEGATIVE ATTENTION HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU AT THE TIME AND DO YOU THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IN A POST-#METOO WORLD?