Leslie Jones exposes rampant social media racism, quits Twitter
Leslie Jones should have been celebrating the successful opening weekend of her new movie, “Ghostbusters,” but instead she was contending with a whole different kind of specter.
On Monday, Jones decided she was tired of simply blocking the constant flood of racist and hateful messages she received on Twitter and shared some of them with her followers, asking quite pointedly why the social media app wasn’t doing more to stop them.
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
Jones then proceeded to tweet screenshots of some of the more vile and egregious racist and sexist messages she’d been receiving. But while the attention brought out droves of supporters -- including her “Ghostbusters” director, Paul Feig -- the attention seemed to only embolden her attackers further, and the noxious tone escalated.
At one point, a group of trolls began tweeting Jones with doctored images of tweets made to look like Jones herself had been making homophobic and racist comments.
Finally, late Monday night, Jones issued a series of tweets lamenting the situation and explaining that she was leaving Twitter.
I use to wonder why some celebs don't have Twitter accts now I know. You can't be nice and communicate with fans cause people crazy.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
As much as I love live-tweeting posting the pics of awesome things that happen in this life I've been blessed with. I don't know anymore.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
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
I'm more human and real than you fucking think.I work my ass off. I'm not different than any of you who has a dream to do what they love.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
I've never claim to be better or special. I just try to do my job as best as I can. Isn't that any of us yall. So Yea this hurts me!
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
It's like when you think "ok I've proven I'm worthy" then you get hit with a shovel of hated. I'm numb. I mean I know there is racism.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
But I'm I that naive to think that some things was changing yes I was. We still live in a world where we have to say "black lives matter"
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
I'm so tired of it. Why is this still a fight? I want to hate so bad but I can't because I know it doesn't fix anything and just make me sad
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
I'm not stupid to not know racism exists. And I know it will probably live on way after me. But we have to make people take responsibility
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
responsibility for the hate they sprew. We have to stand up to it. block mfs but let them know they are racist and sprewing hate.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Stop saying ignore them or that's just the way it is. Cause that's bullshit. Everybody knows an asshole check them for their hate.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Stop letting g people get away with being ignorant. You stupid people to shut up. Tell them to shut up real talk. Say something.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Stop letting the ignorant people be the loud ones. Y'all I got more love than hate but they louder. Fuck that be louder.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Twitter I understand you got free speech I get it. But there has to be some guidelines when you let spread like that. You can see on the
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Profiles that some of these people are crazy sick. It's not enough to freeze Acct. They should be reported.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
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
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
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