Jelena Dokic wanted a second to compose herself as she revealed particulars of her trolling torment in a strong look on Q+A on Monday evening.
The Aussie tennis icon has grow to be some of the vital voices within the public battle surrounding on-line abuse after her collection of devastating revelations in recent times.
The 39-year-old was subjected to horrific social media trolling all through the Australian Open, revealing she has repeatedly been advised to kill herself within the wake of her tragic revelations she needed to combat suicidal ideas about leaping off the sting of a constructing.
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She has additionally been open about her expertise with household violence and body-shaming.
Dokic, who made the Australian Open quarterfinals in 2009, turned visibly emotional when sharing one particular vile remark she continues to obtain from on-line trolls.
Her emotional response got here after being requested “what impact did online trolling have on you both personally and professionally”,
“I’m not out here hurting anyone,” she stated.
“I am the opposite, I am trying to do something good with my platform and create a safe space and a community as well.
“You do get a bit of this hate and you get trolling and I’ve had it on everything, from a mental health perspective to body shaming to abuse as well.
“I consider myself to be pretty strong and I’ve got pretty thick skin, but to actually read some of those things like, ‘Are you going to try and kill yourself again?’ — which is what happened this year — with a laughing emoji…
“I’m not the only one who gets it, and it’s been something that I’ve been so passionate about.’
Dokic on Monday again lobbied for more awareness of the issue and for action from policy makers and social media giants.
Her voice briefly broke when describing the horrific impact mental health has across every aspect of Australian society.
“Actually people’s lives are at stake,” she stated.
“You have no idea how many people I had just walking through the grounds of the Australian Open going to my next match to commentate and do my work come to me and say, ‘Thank you so much for tackling this because my brother took his life 24 hours ago and we were at his funeral’.
“Then you read these comments and it was breaking my heart to actually hear this but I actually know that that’s how it works because there are so many people suffering.”
She stated on-line abuse can’t be normalised or accepted.
Dokic this week made headlines for her public look at an occasion in Melbourne the place her new look had followers doing a double take.
Dokic uploaded a number of photos to her private Instagram account displaying off her outfit for the AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event), a commerce occasion for the conferences and occasion business within the area.
“My look for the AIME Asia Pacific event,” she wrote.
“Outfit (dress and jacket) by @witcheryfashion.”
Her second put up was an in depth up look the place she thanked Alex Munro for her hair and make-up for the occasion the place she was a keynote speaker.
The feedback part of the posts have been flooded with followers completely loving the brand new look Dokic.
“Beautiful and classy as always,” one person commented. “Sensational look.”
“You are beautiful inside and out, Jelena!” one other added.
“What a fantastic Australian role model you are,” yet another wrote.
“You’re on fire. Thank you for being the amazing person you are.”
Dokic has not too long ago been extensively praised for her dedication to calling out trolls and highlighted one other disgusting case in January the place she was advised to kill herself by a Serbian Instagram person.
“A new low and this actually made me cry this morning when I woke up and read it,” she wrote.
“Just when you think online abuse and trolling can’t get any worse. Almost 1 million people commit suicide in the world every year.
“That’s scary and so sad and then people like this disgusting person and a few others out there make fun of it!? How disgusting. They should (be) ashamed of themselves.”
Her courageous, public stance included a stunning element that almost all of the abuse has been despatched by girls.
“The ‘body shaming’ and ‘fat shaming’ over the last 24 hours has been insane,” she posted in all capitalised letters.
“Coming from everywhere in the world and a special shout to so much of it coming from Serbia as the last picture confirms.
“And, yes, a lot of them are women too. So much for ‘women supporting women’.
“Here are just a few examples confirming just how much body shaming I am being subjected to in Serbia as well. And this first picture? EVIL. There is no other word for it.
“Disgusting. People should be so ashamed. The most common comment being ‘what happened to her, she is so big’?
“I will tell you what happened, I am finding a way and surviving and fighting. And it really doesn’t matter what I am doing and what happened because size shouldn’t matter.
“What matters is your online abuse, bullying and fat shaming. That’s what matters because those of you that do it are just evil, bad, mean and ignorant people.”
Dokic was inundated with help from individuals slamming the trolls.
Source: www.news.com.au
