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After Kylie Jenner disabled comments on her Instagram account and Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones took a stand against Twitter trolls, now Daisy Ridley has joined the anti-online abuse movement.
The Star Wars actress deleted her Instagram account on Thursday after her post about the Orlando shooting tribute at the Teen Choice Awards earlier in the week attracted hundreds of angry comments.
“[As] I sat in the audience yesterday tears were streaming down my face at the tribute to those that have been lost to gun violence,” the post read.
“I didn’t get a great picture of the incredible group that came on stage but they were so brave. It was a true moment of togetherness. We must #stoptheviolence.”
Pro-gun activists hijacked the comments section to attack the actress, and some users called Daisy a hypocrite given the violence depicted in the Star Wars films.
She briefly reactivated her account to explain to followers why she decided to quit the platform.
“I just want to be on my phone less! Trying to be more present and all that and got a busy few months ahead so wanted less distractions… It’s all good!” she wrote.
“I always appreciate the support and love the Instagram community! X.”
The abuse being received by high profile people on social media is reaching a critical point, and after urging from celebrities including Leslie Jones and Chrissy Teigen, Instagram rolled out a new feature allowing users to filter or turn off comments completely. Kylie Jenner was quick to get on board, but Taylor Swift is believed to be the first to try it after receiving an overwhelming amount of snake emojis following her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
It seems to be helping, at least for Taylor, who has posted on Instagram a couple of times in recent days after weeks of nothing but tumbleweeds (and snake emojis) on her account.
