- Actress Collien Fernandes has made serious allegations against her ex-husband, Christian Ulmen, concerning deepfake pornography and fake profiles.
- Ulmen denies the accusations, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- Experts suggest potential motives including jealousy, hurt feelings, insecurity, or a need for control.
- Anonymity and low barriers to entry online contribute to such acts and complicate investigations.
Actress Collien Fernandes has leveled serious accusations against her former husband, Christian Ulmen, alleging he created fake profiles in her name and distributed deepfake pornography over several years. Ulmen has denied the claims, and is presumed innocent. The allegations have already prompted a swift response from some companies – his series «Jerks» has been removed from streaming platforms, and advertising partners are pausing campaigns. Fernandes called for a demonstration against sexualized violence on Saturday morning.
The case has sparked widespread discussion beyond the entertainment world, raising fundamental questions about the motivations behind such behavior, particularly towards a former partner. It likewise highlights the dynamics at play in the digital space and whether we are seeing a resurgence of outdated possessive attitudes towards women. Milena Brüni, co-leader of the victim support organization Okey, and psychologist Dominik Schöbi emphasized in a conversation that a remote diagnosis is not possible, but offered insights into potential underlying factors.
Why would someone do something like this to their own partner?
Dominik Schöbi: “Such behavior can be motivated in different ways. It can be triggered by injuries within a separation or relationship problems, but it is also conceivable that it occurs during a seemingly intact relationship, either through one’s own feelings of lack of acceptance and rejection, or through jealousy and insecurities in an existing relationship. On this path, it can also manifest through the perpetrator’s sexual interests, ideas and thoughts, leading to such behavior. It is also conceivable that a greater desire for control arises.”
According to reports in «Spiegel», Christian Ulmen detailed a highly confidential matter in an email to a criminal defense attorney, explaining that he had “unfortunately developed a sexual fetish” and had created fake profiles in his wife’s name again. Sexual therapist LuciAnna Braendle stated that a fetish is not a legitimate justification for his actions: “Even if he has such a fetish, that does not automatically supply permission to act on it.” The partner’s consent is essential in this case. She has never encountered anyone with such a fetish in her therapies. “However, I can imagine that it is more widespread than one thinks.”
What role does the prominence of both individuals play?
Schöbi: “The fact that partners in the public eye receive a lot of attention – specifically also on their sexual attractiveness – is a well-known circumstance that can be a burden on relationships for prominent couples. It is not easy for celebrities and their partners to categorize this in private and deal with it.”
Why are we still surprised after the Epstein files, Pelicot and various other cases?
Milena Brüni: “Because we still assume that perpetrators correspond to a certain type of person. Perpetrators live unnoticed among all of us.”
What role does a perceived sense of security in the digital space play in such cases?
Schöbi: “We are talking about situations, even if they occur repeatedly over a long period of time, in which feelings and emotional needs take over and determine the actions. Much rationality is lost. In the digital space, the thresholds are low and much is unclear, there is still little orientation.”
Brüni: “Anonymity plays a big role. Fake accounts – as we spot in this case – are difficult to trace to identify perpetrators. Deleting images from the net is often very time-consuming.”
Do societal developments also play a role – such as antifeminist currents or a modern claim of ownership over women?
Brüni: “It is true that in these currents, the man’s sense of ownership over the woman is reinforced and even promoted, and we must observe them closely. It is important that certain questions are discussed early on, for example in schools: What does masculinity mean to me, how can I live it? What do healthy relationships look like?”
“However, if we look at global power structures, we can certainly say that this sense of ownership is increasingly being legitimized.”
I would not say that all men are tending towards these images. However, if we look at global power structures, we can certainly say that this sense of ownership is increasingly being legitimized. We are currently not seeing a significant increase in cases at our center. What we are seeing, however, is that many young people and young adults who are seeking advice from us have already experienced sexualized violence online.
Why does a victim go public with such experiences?
Schöbi: “Such experiences fundamentally shake trust. It is understandable that there is a great need to regain control over events, and as a public figure, a public path is likely to be more accessible than for other people.”
Brüni: “She may also want to publicly refute the deepfakes and inform society about this type of violence. When the issue becomes public, society can be sensitized. Perpetrators also lose power in this way, and the victim regains a piece of control.”
The two have a 13-year-old daughter. What does this case of sexual violence do to a child?
Schöbi: “This is a very complex question, and much more would have to be known about the case and the family. It is certainly a very stressful situation for the daughter. What happened itself, and also the public dispute about it.”
Brüni: “This case is terrible for the daughter, especially because these topics often reach into school. It is important to carefully consider how the daughter can be protected from this. Fundamentally, it is extremely stressful for children when they experience parental partnership violence.”
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Carolin Teufelberger (cat) has been working for 20 Minuten as an editor in the News, Business & Video Reporting department since 2024.
Melissa Greiter (mgr) has been working for 20 Minuten since 2024. She has been an editor in the News, Business and Video Reporting department since February 2025.
