It was emotional blackmail: Mischa Barton on sex tape

Actress Mischa Barton has opened up about her "emotional blackmail" following the emergence of a sex tape featuring her and her former beau.

The 31-year old reflected on the moment she discovered that the tape was being offered to the highest bidder, during an interview on TV show "Dr. Phil", reports dailymail.co.uk.

While speaking on the show, Barton said that someone told her of the sex tape's existence "several months ago".

"It got to me because somebody came up to me on the street and said, 'There's something I need to tell you'.

"And I didn't believe it at first; I couldn't believe it because I loved this person and I didn't believe it was possible, and I later learned that it was entirely possible," Barton said.

The tape was being sold to various porn sites at a starting price of $500,000.

"It was obviously complete emotional blackmail, but it was one of those things where I need to distance myself from all of these people immediately, because there's not much you can do; it's really out of your hands, and it was a crime," she said.

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