Author and media commentator Liz Fraser has publicly addressed a sustained campaign of online harassment targeting her for nearly a decade, describing the coordinated attacks as deeply damaging and calling for urgent reforms to combat what she characterizes as abuse rather than mere trolling.
Fraser, who has worked in television and media for almost 30 years, said the harassment stems largely from groups of women who have spread false allegations about her personal and professional life. These include claims she abandoned her children, engaged in criminal behavior, and falsified mental health diagnoses—assertions Fraser emphatically denies. She described the online abuse as an organized effort involving extensive and repeated defamation, with nearly a million words posted about her on various gossip and parenting forums.
The writer and mother of four, who transitioned from television to become a parenting commentator and author, has published five books, two of which reached international bestseller status. Fraser has openly shared personal experiences in an effort to support others, discussing topics such as divorce and living with an alcoholic, all of which have been carefully documented for accuracy. Despite this transparency, she has faced relentless harassment aimed at discrediting her as a mother, professional, and business owner—she runs an independent publishing company.
Fraser highlighted that the online attacks are distinctive in that they involve women targeting other women, often strangers or acquaintances who appear to be ordinary individuals. She said this form of group-based harassment is escalating and differs from previously recognized patterns rooted in male-centric online hostility. According to Fraser, the abusers operate behind anonymous identities, making it difficult to hold them accountable and enabling a cycle of sustained abuse that damages victims’ reputations, mental health, and personal relationships.
The ongoing harassment, Fraser said, has affected nearly every aspect of her life, from friends and family distancing themselves to professional and social consequences. She urged for comprehensive legal and technological measures to address this issue, including reforms to existing legislation, clearer employer protocols to support victims, and stricter oversight of online platforms that facilitate such behavior.
A key step Fraser advocates for is the elimination of anonymous posting online, arguing that removing anonymity would discourage abusers and reduce the scope of harm inflicted on public figures and private individuals alike. She emphasized the need for society, lawmakers, and tech companies to recognize the severity of online harassment and take coordinated action to prevent its expansion.
Fraser’s experience sheds light on the broader challenge of online abuse faced by many, stressing the importance of defining these attacks as serious abuse rather than dismissing them as harmless trolling. She hopes her efforts and research will contribute to meaningful changes that protect individuals from similar prolonged campaigns of online defamation.