Nicola Bulley's partner has agreed to participate in a new documentary about her disappearance, aiming to address the 'entitled' social media detectives who subjected him to 'really difficult level of scrutiny', according to the director.
Paul Ansell, Ms Bulley's partner for 12 years and father of their two children, faced a storm of baseless online conspiracies as internet sleuths became obsessively involved in the search for the mother-of-two. It got so bad that even friends of the couple had to plead with online trolls to stop posting 'disgusting allegations' and 'vile theories'.
Rachel Lob-levyt, the director of the BBC documentary titled The Search For Nicola Bulley, admitted it was 'nerve-racking' to thrust the Lancashire mother's partner back into the public eye, but she believed it was 'the right thing to do'. The documentary, which airs on October 3, was an important project for the director, who wanted to showcase the realities of what it was like for Nicola's loved ones.
Opening up about the premise of the documentary, Rachel said: "We had a viewing with the family. It was difficult - obviously emotional for them. They feel the documentary really honours their experience, and honours Nikki. At the time she went missing, Paul was subject to a really difficult level of scrutiny.
"The idea of putting himself back in the public eye is nerve-racking but ultimately, he thought it the right thing to do. The social media sleuths felt entitled to say whatever they wanted. In the past we'd have talked about these things in the pub, whereas now people broadcast it online and everything is accelerated. Opinion takes on similar weight to verified information."
The family have also issued a statement via Rogan Productions about the upcoming documentary, admitting that participating 'wasn't an easy decision'. They further stated: "Nikki's face and name quickly became very recognisable, but there is so much to share about Nikki the person.
"Our sole aim is to provide the definitive record on Nikki to ensure she has the legacy that she deserves. Many people have aired their views about her disappearance and her untimely and tragic death, only we can speak about her as a mummy, partner, daughter, and sister." The family also confessed: "It was emotionally draining reliving some of our experiences, but we wanted to do this for Nikki."
Ms Bulley vanished on January 27 last year while walking her dog Willow along the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire. Three weeks later, her body was found in the River Wyre by a member of the public on February 19.
The coroner ruled Ms Bulley's death as accidental, stating she fell into the river and experienced 'cold water shock', with 'no evidence' to suggest suicide. At the time, police officials had criticised 'TikTokers' for acting like 'private detectives' in the area during her disappearance, claiming they were swamped with 'false information, accusations and rumours' related to the case.
Social media users falsely claimed there was third-party involvement, and spread rumours about an abandoned house across the River Wyre, a red van in the vicinity, a fisherman spotted nearby and a glove belonging to Ms Bulley, all of which were dismissed by the police.
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