Ghostbusters Star Leslie Jones Attacked by Racist Trolls on Twitter
The sexist hostility aimed at the new Ghostbusters reboot in the months leading up to its release has been well-documented at this point. But in the wake of the film’s opening last week, the vitriol seems to have intensified — targeted in particular at actress and comedian Leslie Jones, who tweeted early Tuesday morning that she was “[leaving] Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart” after a barrage of racist tweets.
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 (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
It’s unclear if she meant she was leaving the social-media platform for good, though it seems she would have good motivation to. She spent most of Monday fighting back at the trolls who flooded her Twitter mentions with fiercely bigoted insults, screenshotting and retweeting the lewdest ones. Eventually, however, she appeared to reach a breaking point.
“I feel like I’m in a personal hell,” she tweeted just after midnight.
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 (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
She went on to call out Twitter for not enforcing guidelines on preventing online abuse, prompting a response from the company’s CEO Jack Dorsey.
@Lesdoggg Hi Leslie, following, please DM me when you have a moment
— Jack (@jack) July 19, 2016
Meanwhile, many are taking to the website to voice their support for Jones, using the hashtag #LoveForLeslieJ.
They hate to see you shine. Do it anyway. Blind them.
You is beautiful
You is talented
You is kind
#LoveforLeslieJ https://t.co/Kc7ySGPVcA— Candice Patton (@candicekp) July 19, 2016
I know this has been said dozens of times but it's still sad to see the hate levied at a woman just for existing. #LoveforLeslieJ
— Robert L. Reece, MA (@PhuzzieSlippers) July 19, 2016
#loveforLesliej. That's all.
— TheAndiOshow (@andiosho) July 19, 2016
What CAN'T my fav @Lesdoggg do?! So much respect for such a genuinely hilarious, beautiful, & inspiring woman #LoveForLeslieJ
— Jordan Doww (@JordanDoww) July 19, 2016