Leslie Jones, a leading actress in this year’s highly anticipated reboot of Ghostbusters, has been having quite a hard time due to the hate-filled words of Twitter trolls.
The film’s cast has already experienced a barrage of misogynistic backlash following the announcement of the adaptation—which features all-female leading roles in replacement of the all-male cast of the 1984 film.
That being said, Jones has to deal with one more thing that her co-stars do not: racism. On Monday night, Jones—who had previously filled her Twitter feed with positive tweets and love for the movie—finally had enough, tweeting:
Some people on here are fucking disgusting. I'm blocking your filthy ass if retweet that perverted shit. Just know that now bitches!!
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
After the continued bombardment of insults, she gave up blocking and began to retweet some of the hate so people could get a taste of the abuse she has been dealing with online. A lot of the hate-speech revolved around calling her an ”ape” or some variation of the term.
Ok I have been called Apes, sent pics of their asses,even got a pic with semen on my face. I'm tryin to figure out what human means. I'm out
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
You know I'm gonna stop blocking so y'all can go through my feed yourself and see the bs. You won't believe the evil. It's fucking scary
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
It wasn’t long before her supporters began to send encouraging messages via the #LoveForLeslieJ hashtag, which ended up trending worldwide. Among those who spoke in favor of the actress was the film’s director, Paul Feig, as well as Jada Pinkett Smith, Margaret Cho, John Boyega, and Anna Kendrick.
In the end, however, Jones retreated from the Twittersphere with teary eyes and a heavy heart, but not before raising a few key points.
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
While many celebrities of color have spoken out about the racism that permeates Hollywood, few have mentioned racially motivated backlash they’ve received from the public. Leslie Jones not only brought to light the way people tend to strip actors of humanity but how being in the spotlight can be harmful—especially if you’re a black woman. Let us refer to it as “the price of visibility.”
As much as you want to thinks actors ain't human I want to give you something to think about. I work off pure passion for this game.
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Additionally, to all the people who think you’re helping by telling those dealing with this level of harassment to “ignore it” or “be the bigger person,” Ms. Jones has a message for you, too:
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 ? (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Cause I have every right to be offended and pissed. So for right now I have to take a break. All this hatred giving me the blues! Outty 5000
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
It is important to recognize that so-called “advice” that people offer under the guise of being supportive, are in fact doing the opposite. Leslie isn’t the first to point this out; however, her words still ring true. We often allow racists and abusers to spew their hate, feel their rage, and express their “feelings” with little consequence; meanwhile, victims such as Leslie are urged not to stoop to their level.
Do you ever think people, especially those who are targeted due to the color of their skin, are tired of being “strong” or “the bigger person?” It is dehumanizing to deny people like Leslie the privilege of being angry and responding in a way that exhibits that rage and hurt.
We should, rather than monitoring the response of those dealing with abuse, be speaking out against those who spew hateful rhetoric, as well as others—most notably Twitter, in this case—who are implicit in these injustices through their inaction.
