Tulisa breaks long-held silence on the sex tape her ex released

Singer Tulisa Contostavlos has opened up about how her ex releasing their sex tape felt like 'virtual rape'.

The star, 36, who was a judge on X Factor at the time, said it has taken her 'many years' to come to terms with and get over.

Her ex-boyfriend Justin Edwards - who she had broken up with in 2009 - released a sex tape of her in 2012 during the height of her fame.

The N-Dubz singer had become one of the judges on the popular ITV show but returned for the new series feeling 'judged, disgusting and ashamed'.

On the impact it had on her return to X Factor she said: 'Honestly, there's no words to describe.

'It felt like virtual rape, that's the only way I can describe the emotion. It was just horrific. I felt so just judged and I felt disgusting, I felt ashamed.

'It just felt horrible, there's no word to describe. It's taken me many, many years to come to terms with it. Now, for me, all pain is growth.

'So, every single part of my experiences I was meant to feel and I wouldn't be the person I am today without them.

'So there is no regret on anything, that is my path. I was meant to live it and I have.'

On the remainder of her time on the show, she said: 'I just became miserable by the end of that second year, I wasn't going to do the show again.

'I just hated it, I hated it every day. Like I said, it's taken me years, I didn't even know how long I would need to process it.

'It's affected my relationships to this day and intimacy and all those kinds of things - it's life changing in a big, big way.'

Revenge porn was not illegal at the time, meaning she only managed to get a court apology from him.

Tulisa admitted the ordeal has impacted her relationships 'to this day' and has been 'life changing in a big, big way'.

Speaking on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It's Right podcast about the fall-out from its release, she said: 'I was aware of it.

'In series one, I'd been told that my ex had a tape and that it was coming out.

'So, I was just living in constant fear and went to one of the producers and I was like, 'apparently my ex has this tape and he's going to release it. I don't know what to do.

'And she was just like, '"we're just going to have to take it as it comes".'

Justin released it between her first and second series as a panel judge on the ITV talent show.

Tulisa said she'd been told her ex-boyfriend got given a house after releasing the tape.

On whether there were any repercussion for him, she continued: 'No.

'I mean, I sued him down the line, but I think he just got to the point where he's like, I'm not spending this money.

'Because at the time I had money to spend, so I was like, I'm just going to keep suing your a**e. And then eventually he just wrote an apology.'

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She said Justin had been denying he'd released it and tried to claim she had been complicit in the making of the tape.

'He tried to say that either it was me or I was involved - something crazy like that.' she said.

'So he just basically admitted it was him, that was it. But there were no repercussions.'

At the time of her high court win in 2012, revenge porn was not a criminal offence.

In a similar case, Stephen Bear was jailed for 21 months last March after sharing a sex tape without the consent of his ex-partner, Georgia Harrison.

However, the revenge porn law only came into force in 2014, meaning it was too late for Justin to be prosecuted for it.

On the unlawfulness of sharing explicit images, Tulisa said: 'It is now. It just wasn't then, it's mental.'

Tulisa settled her legal action against Justin in 2012 after he admitted he was responsible for releasing the sex tape that appeared online and agreed to say sorry.

The star told waiting photographers she was thrilled that 'the truth had come out' over the publication of the intimate footage.

And, in her statement, she added: 'This time, Justin messed with the wrong woman'.

She added: 'I am relieved that this is finally over. It has been a very testing few months and this was not a case I ever wanted to go through.

'Justin Edwards's actions were to spite me, make money and ruin my career. He has succeeded in none of these things.

'I stand here today a stronger, wiser young woman who has taken this experience and learnt from it.'

She continued: 'I am disgusted by Justin and saddened by the people that believed I released the footage myself. Today the truth has prevailed. After months of lying to the public and lying in court, Justin has finally admitted to being guilty and I hope justice is served.'

She also had a special message for fans who have supported her in her battle with her ex.

Tulisa added: 'I would now like to draw a line under this and put it in the past. I also would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the fans that stood by me. I'm especially grateful for all the support I have received from the public, my friends, family and team.

'With that support and my determination I have won this battle. This time, Justin messed with the wrong woman.'