Of course, an influencer with 1.8 million followers can do wrong. But can a political influencer who publicly advocates for women’s rights be involved in alleged sexual harassment? At first glance, many wouldn’t believe so.
Twenty-three-year-old Irish-American political influencer Harry Sisson is under fire for allegedly manipulating women into sharing explicit photos via Snapchat. His passion for politics began in 2020 when he started posting daily content on TikTok. Since then, his media campaign covering current political events has skyrocketed in both quality and reach, landing him opportunities to meet former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
As a New York University student, Sisson is primarily known for expressing outspoken liberal beliefs, including his advocacy for women’s rights. While he claims to “respect women for more than just their bodies,” his alleged hypocrisy has sparked fierce opposition and disgust. These accusations raise serious concerns about the integrity of influencers with large followings. Meanwhile, Sisson has yet to take accountability for his alleged online behavior.
News of his actions came to light through Republican State Delegate Sarah Fields, who shared evidence from twelve alleged victims on X (formerly Twitter). On her handle, @SarahisCensored, she not only relayed the exchanged snaps but also claimed, “He called them [the alleged victims] all insane and attempted to coerce one of them into telling the public that the photos were ‘fake.’” While Fields is amplifying the voices of online abuse survivors, her role in exposing this case also raises questions about selective outrage and accountability. One could argue that she is a hypocrite for not calling out members of her own party for similar actions. This bias reveals the danger of sexual abuse being used as political ammunition rather than being addressed in the pursuit of justice. Regardless of her motivations, her tweet gained traction, garnering 7.5k comments and 24.8 million views.
Beyond Fields’ commentary, there is direct evidence and personal stories from women sharing similar accounts. Among them is sexual assault survivor Carlee Hosch. On her TikTok account, she shared that she had followed Sisson for two months and supported his advocacy, even requesting to share her perspective on sexual assault during a TikTok Live. Eventually, they added each other on Snapchat, and their friendship began casually. However, Harry’s behavior soon crossed boundaries as he developed an inappropriate fixation on her. Hosch claimed, “Not too long after that, it all became even more intensely inappropriate, like the things he was requesting from me kind of took me by surprise.” A few months later, she exposed images and proof of his inappropriate demands for body-related pictures.
Another alleged victim is domestic violence survivor Sara (@playmatesara), who chose not to disclose her last name. She recounted a similar experience on TikTok, saying, “My personal interactions with Harry were very specific—they pretty much revolved around me sending explicit photos that he had requested, very specific ones.”
The connection between these women wouldn’t surface until February 2025. In the comment section of one of Sisson’s videos, another girl who had interacted with him a month earlier spoke up. Through a growing network of DMs, it became clear that Harry was engaging in inappropriate conversations with multiple women simultaneously—many of whom shared eerily similar testimonies. As Sara explained, “More and more girls came forward saying that they thought he was the only one they were talking to.”
In a group video chat, the women shared screenshots and messages where Sisson demanded intimate pictures and insisted they pose in sexual ways. In response, he wrote comments such as, “The verdict is that you look sexy as f***,” or “I’m so glad to hear that, let me do that in person.” As reported in the Hindustan Times, Sisson went as far as calling Carlee “wifey material,” stating he was “sold” on her “wife’s application.”
One disturbing image shows a victim posing uncomfortably while Sisson replies with a grin of enjoyment. In another screenshot, he admits to receiving nude images from various girls, saying, “You definitely have a lot to offer, no doubt. I think right now, I can’t be exclusive. Not because I’m getting nudes from a bunch of girls or f***ing girls and stuff (I don’t hook up with anyone ever), but because I just don’t think I’d be able to commit 100% to something.” His message is framed to make the women appear as the initiators, painting him as innocent—but that could not be further from the truth.
In reality, most women do not choose to send nude photos freely; exposing one’s body is deeply personal and often done under pressure. A study from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln confirms that “only a few female respondents said they were motivated by themselves rather than external pressures.” Given that various girls testified that their interactions with Sisson became “inappropriate,” it’s likely they didn’t send the images for pleasure, but rather because they were dealing with a powerful man of the opposite sex.
The casual tone of his messages reveals the entitlement that often comes with power, especially among men who manipulate women and then blame them for the consequences. This situation highlights the vulnerability of women who are routinely taken advantage of by those with influence.
These women weren’t just dealing with an ordinary guy online, but a 23-year-old NYU student influencing a new generation of liberal American politics. The scale of Sisson’s influence can easily overwhelm women who admire his professed morality and principles. Under pressure and manipulation, many may feel they have no choice but to comply with his requests.
Hosch reflected, “I had a lot of respect for him. I thought he was this champion for women, supported our rights, berated people who disrespect women.” However, it took time for that image to unravel. In other words, standing up for a noble cause may, in some cases, disguise the opposite of one’s private actions. With power comes credibility and trust—but in today’s online culture, morality is too often sacrificed to build a persona.
Despite the extensive photo evidence, many of Sisson’s supporters on social media insist that there should be an official investigation. Others dismiss the photographic proof, testimonies, screenshots, and videos shared by twelve women as insufficient. In response to the allegations, Sisson called the women “insane,” implying they were simply seeking attention.
The fact that he still maintains a massive platform and millions of followers raises a troubling question: Are people truly evaluating the integrity of those who speak on important issues? Mixed reactions from users online are alarming. Rather than believing survivors and acknowledging the power dynamics at play, many continue to defend public figures based solely on political alignment.
A closer analysis reveals how easily people excuse or defend those they support politically, regardless of the harm done. When we offer blind allegiance to one side of the political aisle, we risk betraying our values of respect, accountability, and transparency. In doing so, we allow those in power to distort our moral judgment.
Ultimately, when we align ourselves strictly along partisan lines—Republican or Democrat—we risk enabling abuse to be ignored or justified. We allow individuals to escape accountability based on charisma and public image.
This situation underscores the importance of judging without bias or loyalty when faced with serious allegations like sexual misconduct. In the end, what someone preaches publicly should be measured by what they practice privately. That nuance is essential to achieving real justice.
