Leslie Jones is one of the most talented comedians working today. Her skits and guest bits on Saturday Night Live and her performance in the Ghostbusters reboot is some of the funniest stuff seen on screen in ages. Half the weeks she appears, Jones practically saves “Weekend Update” with a mix of skill and sheer commitment to the bit. However, for as many fans as she has around the world there will still be awful people on the internet who feel comfortable saying horrible things since they are protected by their computer screens or social media anonymity.
That was the situation in which Jones found herself today, beset by dozens upon dozens of online creeps who think it is okay to send somebody gross photos, insulting memes, or racist epithets. Jones, ever willing to share the struggles of her career and the abominable behavior of internet trolls, tweeted out some screenshots of the abuse she was receiving. Most were either incredibly racially charged, mocking of her looks, or both.
I just don't understand pic.twitter.com/N9xWoXPttu
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Yep so sad these people have mothers and sisters and aunts. So fucking sickening pic.twitter.com/fEVLEgUfGh
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
@dr0000ne @Lesdoggg pic.twitter.com/8Pquv2EnsA
— Laura Axelsen (@AxelsenLaura) July 18, 2016
Twitter, as the company has been known for in the past, has done nothing about the abuse because it doesn’t “comment on individual accounts” and it’s unclear whether any of the people being reported by the actress or her supporters have been banned from using the platform. Fortunately, there are more good people on the internet than bad on most days and ever since she started tweeting out these horrid examples, love has been flowing in from all corners using the hashtag #LoveforLeslieJ.
#LoveForLeslieJ No one deserves this. Fortunately, @Lesdoggg is a QUEEN. Rise, lady. Rise & take your throne! πΈπΏ
— Fandom Den Mother, LMT, CMA/RMA (@Rehfan) July 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/ILLCapitano94/status/755199458036420609
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
https://twitter.com/gaileyfrey/status/755198671080202240
https://twitter.com/gaileyfrey/status/755197327216738308
Comic. SNL game-changer. Movie star. #LoveforLeslieJ @Lesdoggg pic.twitter.com/ovA8O3ZPmz
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) July 19, 2016
As heartening as it is to see fans and fellow celebrities from around the industry speak up about this abuse and send Jones compliments and support, it shouldn’t necessitate hundreds of people coming together with a hashtag to combat bigotry. It would be pretty nice to just not have bigotry in the first place. Leslie Jones in the best and neither she nor anybody else in or out of the public eye deserves this treatment.
Update: On Monday night, Jones responded to the endless stream of abuse with a tweet storm of her own.
It's so sad,most of these comments sound like they are from ignorant children. "I'm the source of AIDS?!" WTF!! These people hate themselves
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
You have to hate yourself to putout that type of hate. I mean on my worst day I can't think of this type of hate to put out.
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
I don't know how to feel. I'm numb. Actually numb. I see the words and pics and videos. Videos y'all. Meaning people took time to sprew hate
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
This sent a video screaming he hates niggas! I'm just so like damn! Like no shame or compassion for human life.It scares the fuck out of me!
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
The comedienne continued on and made clear that celebrities are people too, which should be obvious to pretty much everybody and not an excuse to spew hatred.
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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Finally, Jones put out a call to action for ignorant people to know better and the good people out there to hold such online trash responsible for their actions.
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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
I'm tired of everybody not believing they can change something. We are the people we can change anything if we want. We stop eating spinach
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Cause we thought it was hurting us. You mean to tell me we can't stop hate. I don't believe that. I just am sadden today.
— Leslie Jones π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@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 π¦ (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016
Jones ended the stream of tweets by letting everybody know she is taking a break, and we honestly can’t blame her one bit.