The Revenge Porn Warrior
ELLE|September 2019

Attorney Carrie Goldberg Has Made A Name For Herself Defending Victims Of Online Harassment And Vengeful Exes. Now The High-Profile Lawyer Is Opening Up About The Abuse She Suffered Along The Way. By Jessica Testa

The Revenge Porn Warrior

“Holy Shit.” It’s been a week since Carrie Goldberg submitted a final draft of her book, but when I ask how she feels about it and she says “holy shit,” it’s not out of excitement. Nor is it that she’s feeling stunned, or proud, or relieved. At one point she’d felt all those things, but right now Goldberg is mostly experiencing dread—a nerve-racking, “holy shit” kind of dread.

“There’s gonna be, in August, all these people who know my shit,” she says. “The darkest moment in my life, it’s just gonna be out there. Which is super liberating, but it’s just fucking with me.”

Goldberg is a 42-year-old attorney based in Brooklyn. Her law firm specializes in representing victims of “psychos, stalkers, pervs, and trolls,” as she calls them. Each case is different, but usually this means Goldberg is working with women who’ve been hurt by men, often in ways facilitated by technology. (She also has male clients but, predictably, not as many.) After opening her firm in 2014, Goldberg began working on cases involving revenge porn, helping victims scrub the internet of nudes posted online without their consent. While her practice has since grown significantly, along with Goldberg’s national reputation as a tech-savvy, somewhat foul-mouthed legal avenger, one thing hasn’t changed: Her clients know all about having their darkest moments “out there.” Many of them didn’t have a choice. Goldberg, however, is willingly giving up her secrets.

This story is from the September 2019 edition of ELLE.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2019 edition of ELLE.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ELLEView All
Mikey MADISON
ELLE US

Mikey MADISON

With her breakout role as a sex worker, the Anora stay learned much more than how to dance.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
What a Trip DREWSTARKEY
ELLE US

What a Trip DREWSTARKEY

Along with his capital-Pperformance as bad guy Rafe in Outer Banks, Drew Starkey has scored his big movie break. He tells us about his buzzy role in Queer, based on the William S. Burroughs novel.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
Demi MOORE
ELLE US

Demi MOORE

The Substance star has reached a State of enlightenment.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
Cynthia ERIVO
ELLE US

Cynthia ERIVO

For the Nicked star, every character is achance to know herself more deeply.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
Karla Sofia GASCON Selena GOMEZ.&Zoe SALDANA
ELLE US

Karla Sofia GASCON Selena GOMEZ.&Zoe SALDANA

Three very different actresses found sisterhood and career-transforming rolesin Emilia Pérez.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
Saoirse RONAN
ELLE US

Saoirse RONAN

The Irish actress became an unlikely American everygirl. But at 30, she's ready to paint with a darker palette.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
Danielle DEADWYLER
ELLE US

Danielle DEADWYLER

The Piano Lesson star is highlighting Black history through her film roles.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
Julianne MOORE & Tilda SWINTON
ELLE US

Julianne MOORE & Tilda SWINTON

For these two Oscar winners, a long-hoped-for collaboration in The Room Next Door feels meant to be.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
IN THE LAND OF WOMEN
ELLE US

IN THE LAND OF WOMEN

With The Room Next Door, Pedro Almodóvar tackles a new language, but his ability to translate the experience of women remains rock solid.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025
In the Public Eye
ELLE US

In the Public Eye

When Shiori Ito's sexual assault investigation was dropped. she de the camera on herself to find justice.

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2024 - January 2025