Media personality Janet Mbugua has spoken out after a documentary exposed shocking online spaces described as abuse academies, where harmful behaviour is shared and encouraged.
CNN recently exposed the existence of what they describe as a massive online “rape academy,” where men from around the world gather on group chats and message boards to encourage and celebrate the drugging, recording and sexual assault of their wives and partners for the pleasure of other similarly depraved men.
Mbugua pointed to new data from an undercover investigation that revealed millions of visits to these platforms. She explained that the numbers show how widespread and serious the issue has become.
“62 million visits in one month… that was a slow month, because CNN’s undercover investigation says it climbed to over 80 million in March,” Janet Mbugua said on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
She said the findings show a disturbing trend involving men in relationships. She explained that these spaces are said to include husbands, partners, and boyfriends who coach each other and normalise harm.
“Sit with that,” she said.
Janet Mbugua described the situation as difficult to understand. She explained that many of the reported cases involve betrayal by people who were expected to offer love and protection.
“These are husbands, partners, boyfriends, men in relationships, coaching each other, sharing, normalising harm in spaces now being called ‘rape academies.’ Women are coming forward saying the people who were meant to love them, protect them, were the ones filming them, sharing them,” she explained.
Online networks under scrutiny
She said the story is still developing and many questions remain unanswered. She explained that people are trying to understand the scale of the networks and how they operate so openly.
“That disconnect is hard to even process,” Janet Mbugua said.
She questioned how such reports can exist without a stronger reaction. She explained that the situation should not be treated as normal or ignored and said there is a need for urgent attention and action from different groups.
“But how is the world still moving like this is background noise???” she asked.
Janet Mbugua said the issue cannot be fully explained in a short video. She explained that the message being shared is clear and direct. She added that women are not asking for strength but for safety.
“This video is only two minutes. It cannot hold all of this,” she said.
“We are not asking to be strong. We are asking to be safe,” Janet Mbugua added.
She said the conversation may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary.
“Because looking away is exactly how this continues,” she said.
