Ed Sheeran has revealed that he’s quit Twitter after receiving abuse from trolls
After receiving abuse from online trolls, Ed Sheeran has revealed that he’s quit Twitter, and we totally get it it.
The “Shape Of You” singer was talking to The Sun about his relationship with social media when he shared his experiences after being targeted by over zealous fan groups (stans) and online bullies.
Despite being at the height of his career headlining iconic festivals like Glastonbury and breaking Spotify records, Sheeran admitted that, in his day-to-day life, he is often brought down by the comments he sees on the internet, specifically those that he encounters on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
“I’ve actually come off Twitter completely. I can’t read it,” he told The Sun. “I go on it and there’s nothing but people saying mean things. Twitter’s a platform for that. One comment ruins your day. But that’s why I’ve come off it.”
Continuing, Sheeran said that the part that he’d found difficult to comprehend was “why people dislike me so much.”
Highlighting one example, the singer shared how, after he had given an interview, some comments he had made had been misconstrued to be a dig at Lady Gaga. Gaga, while known for her activism against hatred, has certain fans online who can, at times, take their devotion to their favorite popstar too far.
“Lady Gaga’s fanbase read an interview in which they assumed I was talking about her and they all fucking hate,” Sheeran told The Sun. “And it wasn’t anything to do with that at all. So, I think Twitter gets on a massive steam roll of assuming things and then you get in the shit.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ibBPhiaG0?feature=oembed
As The Sun note, the singer will now auto-post pictures from Instagram to Twitter, but won’t be managing or looking at the account himself.
Ed, of course, isn’t the first person to speak out against online hate on social media, and many stars have recently made the decision to step away from platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
While leaving social media platforms is one option, however, no one should feel like they’re forced away from something because of hate and trolling. It’s unacceptable behavior, and we’re sorry that Ed Sheeran had to experience that in any way, shape, or form.
