Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones has decided to take a step away from social media network Twitter after being bombarded with an onslaught of racist comments and threats.
Jones noticed an uptick in the amount of rude comments on her social media since the release of her new comedy, and decided to share some of the vitriol that has been hurled her way so that fans could see what she’d been subjected to. In response, the hashtag #LoveforLeslieJ was created to show support of the actress and plenty of stars, from her Ghostbusters director to fellow actors and fellow comedians and more, chimed in to let her know they have her back:
Leslie Jones is one of the greatest people I know. Any personal attacks against her are attacks against us all. #LoveForLeslieJ @Lesdoggg
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) July 18, 2016
Love you girl! xoAng #LoveforLeslieJ https://t.co/jpboYuQAKF
— Angela Bassett (@ImAngelaBassett) July 19, 2016
@Lesdoggg do not let the trolls win. They are sad puny little maggots who bottom feed in their sad empty basements. #LoveForLeslieJ
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) July 19, 2016
i appreciate you, sis. You make me laugh. #loveforlesliej https://t.co/9x9toP4x8U
— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) July 19, 2016
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
My girl @Lesdoggg has paid her comedy dues & this is her moment ..Stand up comics we need 2 stand up for our girl now RT #LoveforLeslieJ
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) July 19, 2016
After going back and forth with the racist trolls throughout the day, Jones eventually had enough of the hate and resolved to exit the social media site with a final tweet:
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
Twitter’s co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey has since reached out to Jones. No word on whether the site will be making any changes to its terms and conditions or whether Jones will return to the social network.
@Lesdoggg Hi Leslie, following, please DM me when you have a moment
— Jack (@jack) July 19, 2016
Photo Credit: Leslie Jones/Twitter