Online trolls have told him to “drown your baby”
I have a question: What exactly is wrong with people?
X Factor star Jake Quickenden and his partner Sophie Church welcomed little baby Leo into the world this February.
Ever since, the couple have received nasty online comments directed at their tiny, beautiful baby.
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I mean, look at him! It’s hardly the point, but Leo is the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen. How anyone could look at him and feel anything but a giant dose of SQUEEEEE, I have no idea.
But to think something negative, and then actually post it in a comment? I could say lots of cutting things here but I think ‘scarlet for them’ covers it.
Taking to Instagram to speak about the abuse recently, Jake said: “So in the past week this little man has been told he needs Botox, that he’s ugly as fuck and that he’s weird looking, me myself have also been told stay off social media if you don’t want to be trolled, it’s so baffling to me that I should have to stay off social media if I don’t want my 4 week old trolled.
“I don’t mind people giving me shit, as sad as it is I’ve had to get used to being called irrelevant, ugly, attention seeking and the list goes on but to troll an innocent child is so wrong and the people doing it seriously need to seek help.
“I try and be real as possible, but unfortunately there is a dark side of social media and something needs doing about it.”
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And who is making such comments? Shockingly, according to Jake, it’s people who are mothers themselves.
Speaking as part of Thortful’s new initiative on Mental Health Awareness, he said: “More often than not – which is surprising to me – it’s the mums.
“Usually the hate that I used to get from lads, which is understandable. Lads pick on and give s**t to other lads, if they’re jealous of them or whatever. But [the trolling about Leo] seems to be mums, and there’s groups on Facebook discussing the way that I parent or the way that he looks.
“I’m thinking, God, you’ve been there, you’ve been a new parent and you know that it’s hard. We should be supporting each other. These are mums and they’ve got their own kids… It was a little bit surprising if I’m honest”.
There are certain things you’d think you wouldn’t have to encourage people to “be kind” about, but here we are.
Well, baby Leo, we’re huge fans of yours. Jake, if you ever need a babysitter — holler at your HerFamily gals.
