She’s in a ‘personal hell’ caused by online abuse
via Twitter
Last weekend, the all-female reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, debuted at the box office, bringing in a $46 million domestically. Although the box office figures were a little light for such a high-profile, big-budget movie, it was far from a bomb. But the film’s lukewarm box office figures may stem from a sexist backlash the film has battled since it was first announced last year. And no one has felt it more than its African-American star, Leslie Jones. Yesterday, the actress revealed the experience has created a “personal hell” for her online.
While the film’s white stars have dealt with sexism, Jones has also been the target of racist trolls who have sent her a never-ending stream of pornography, racist hate speech, and vulgar memes on Twitter. “Ok I have been called Apes,” she wrote on Twitter, “even got a pic with semen on my face. I’m trying to figure out what human means. I’m out.” The unrelenting attacks forced her to quit Twitter yesterday saying, “I leave Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart. All this cause I did a movie. You can hate the movie but the shit I got today...wrong.”
Jones’s decision is another example of the horrible treatment female celebrities are subject to on social media compounded by Twitter’s disgustingly-racist underbelly. Ghostbusters director, Paul Feig, stood up for Jones on Twitter saying, “Leslie Jones is one of the greatest people I know. Any personal attacks against her are attacks against us all.” Feig also started a #LoveforLeslieJ that has been supported by celebrities such as Margaret Cho, William Shatner, and Tim Meadows. Hopefully the love that her fans and friends have sent Jones can bring her back to the online platform by smothering the pathetic perpetrators of hate who drove her away.
Here’s what Jones had to say on Twitter yesterday.
You have to hate yourself to putout that type of hate. I mean on my worst day I can't think of this type of hate to put out.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468889938
I don't know how to feel. I'm numb. Actually numb. I see the words and pics and videos. Videos y'all. Meaning people took time to sprew hate— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468890031
This sent a video screaming he hates niggas! I'm just so like damn! Like no shame or compassion for human life.It scares the fuck out of me!— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468890133
As much as I love live-tweeting posting the pics of awesome things that happen in this life I've been blessed with. I don't know anymore.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468890238
I'm more human and real than you fucking think.I work my ass off. I'm not different than any of you who has a dream to do what they love.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468890425
It's like when you think "ok I've proven I'm worthy" then you get hit with a shovel of hated. I'm numb. I mean I know there is racism.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468890625
But I'm I that naive to think that some things was changing yes I was. We still live in a world where we have to say "black lives matter"— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468890737
I'm so tired of it. Why is this still a fight? I want to hate so bad but I can't because I know it doesn't fix anything and just make me sad— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468891145
Stop saying ignore them or that's just the way it is. Cause that's bullshit. Everybody knows an asshole check them for their hate.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468891485
Stop letting g people get away with being ignorant. You stupid people to shut up. Tell them to shut up real talk. Say something.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468891574
Cause we thought it was hurting us. You mean to tell me we can't stop hate. I don't believe that. I just am sadden today.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468891830
Twitter I understand you got free speech I get it. But there has to be some guidelines when you let spread like that. You can see on the— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468892314
Profiles that some of these people are crazy sick. It's not enough to freeze Acct. They should be reported.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468892371
And for all the "don't stoop to their level people" it's way past that. So please have a seat. Don't tell me how to react.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468892811
I feel like I'm in a personal hell. I didn't do anything to deserve this. It's just too much. It shouldn't be like this. So hurt right now.— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468903458
I leave Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart.All this cause I did a movie.You can hate the movie but the shit I got today...wrong— Leslie Jones ? (@Leslie Jones ?) 1468905614
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