London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 25, 2025

Cops probe WhatsApps 'about National Rape Day' after TikTok video rumours

Cops probe WhatsApps 'about National Rape Day' after TikTok video rumours

POLICE are investigating reports of a Brit WhatsApp group allegedly promoting a supposed American TikTok video said to call April 24 "National Rape Day".

Sexual violence victim charities have slammed the supposed clip, which is claimed to show men encouraging sexual violence.

While the original video is believed to have been pulled down, or even not to have existed at all, Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating allegations that an encrypted Whatsapp group has been set up to promote the idea in the UK.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Police have received a report of the existence of the WhatsApp group and are currently making enquiries regarding the credibility of the group.”

Falmouth University in Cornwall has also said it is investigating social media posts appearing to encourage the "abhorrent" day.

A spokesperson for the university said: “We have become aware of a number of messages and social media posts circulating in relation to an abhorrent TikTok ‘24 April Hoax’ encouraging sexual violence.

"There is no evidence that reports of these posts and purported related discussions are genuine, or that there is a genuine threat, but it is clear that the issue is causing distress to our community and we therefore want to make clear that we are taking this issue seriously."

They added: "We are actively working with the police to support their investigations and the university will take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone found participating in any related group chats, whether private or public, or engaging with the content in a way that could reasonably be foreseen to cause distress or emotional harm, whether intended or not.

"We would strongly encourage anyone with information about individuals engaged in any such discussions to come forward and support the university, to ensure our campus remains a safe and inclusive environment and so that enquires can be progressed.”

The police stressed that most of social media claims around the day came from abroad - and it was not localised to Cornwall or the UK.

It comes as women in the US urge others to stay indoors after rumours of the stomach-churning threats for April 24 were released on the popular video sharing app.

Meanwhile, one campaigner described the idea of a 'National Rape Day' - where laws are suspended and rape is legal - as "abhorrent".

"Regardless of its origins, or whether or not it was intended as a ‘joke’ at any point, the very concept of such a day is abhorrent and has caused many people, particularly women and girls, a great deal of understandable fear."
Katie Russell Rape Crisis England & Wales



Katie Russell, from Rape Crisis England & Wales, told The Sun Online: "Our understanding is that this disturbing so-called ‘trend’ on TikTok began as a hoax, and no evidence has been found of the original video threatening a national day of sexual violence in the USA.

"Regardless of its origins, or whether or not it was intended as a ‘joke’ at any point, the very concept of such a day is abhorrent and has caused many people, particularly women and girls, a great deal of understandable fear.

"The ‘trend’ will no doubt have also been extremely distressing for many, not least of all victims and survivors of rape and all forms of sexual violence and abuse who might have had vivid memories and flashbacks to past experiences triggered by this."

She added: "Obviously, despite one particular piece of misinformation that has featured in this so-called ‘trend’, there is no day or moment where laws are suspended and rape is legal in the USA or anywhere else in the world.

"Rape and sexual assault are always serious crimes.

"It should also go without saying that rape and all forms of sexual violence and abuse are traumatic experiences that can and do have wide-ranging and long-lasting impacts, and are never appropriate topics to ‘joke’ about."

Andrea Simon, director of End Violence Against Women Coalition said: "Regardless of whether this is a hoax or not, we know the use of threats of sexual violence and derogatory comments about women’s appearance and bodies are very common forms of online abuse that women are subjected to.

"We wouldn't accept threats to rape offline and we can't ignore them online. They intend to intimidate and silence women in online spaces, causing real harm to individuals and to society and should never be tolerated."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
×