US Weekly was right. Celebrities are just like us.
Some stars are saying “enough” when it comes to social media. No, Kim Kardashian probably won’t be going cold Twitter any time soon. We need her to occasionally break the Internet.
Others, though, are taking a self-imposed time out. Who can’t relate to that, given the dark side of social media?
The latest quitters are Chrissy Teigen and Demi Lovato. Teigen, a model and TV personality, shared a desperate confession recently before stepping back.
“Not strong enough anymore,” she replied to the user who asked about it, then added in a separate tweet, “It’s not haters or trolls or generally mean people. I just feel like I am absorbing bad s–t 24/7. My body and mind cannot handle it anymore.”
Lovato may not be officially stepping down, but it’s clear we shouldn’t be waiting for her next few tweets.
“So excited for 2017. Taking a break from music and the spotlight.. I am not meant for this business and the media,” the 24-year-old singer tweeted Tuesday morning, punctuating the sentiment with a waving-hand emoji.
So excited for 2017. Taking a break from music and the spotlight.. I am not meant for this business and the media 👋🏼
— Team Demi (@ddlovato) October 4, 2016
They aren’t alone. Fellow stars like Alec Baldwin and Lena Dunham have alternately quit and rejoined Twitter. In Baldwin’s case, his barely controlled temper often gets the best of him.
Dunham is another matter. She’s the poster child for our safe space age, a star who needs a trigger warning when she wakes up in the morning.
Other famous Twitter quitters include “Avengers” director Joss Whedon, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Miley Cyrus and Ashton Kutcher.
What’s really distressing about all this?
The distressing part of it all? Too many stars admit they can’t handle cyber criticism. Now, most of us can’t imagine the negative feedback some stars receive. People can be cruel, particularly when they’re anonymously smiting celebrities from the comfort of their home.
Yet Teigen says she isn’t “strong enough.” Not strong enough to ignore nasty tweets? I bet she’s plenty tough in real life. Teigen is a mom. What’s tougher than being a parent?
So why not use a similar strength to ward off cruel comments?
There’s another side to the story.
Celebrities often dwell in a land where they hear “yes” far more than “no.” They give interviews where they’re rarely pressed on their pet causes. They give speeches at award galas knowing no one will cross-examine them.
On Twitter, any Joe or Jane Sixpack can do just that. It’s likely that’s not very appealing to some thinner skinned stars.
It’s clearly not the only reason some celebrities take a Twitter break. Don’t discount it, either.
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