The internet is an ugly place, with “trolls” spending their time cutting people down. These internet bullies know it’s easy to hide under the bridge—behind a screen—because they’ll never get caught. Sad really.
Recently, Melissa Blake, experienced nasty comments of several trolls on a viral level. Blake is a disabled journalist and blogger who has published with Glamour, The New York Times and more. She even runs an amazing blog called, So About What I Said…, that highlights fashion, lifestyle, relationships, and love. She even includes a section labeled, “Disability Dialogue” that discusses life with a disability and the misconceptions spread by the media.
All in all, I wouldn’t mess with her. She’s smart, witty, and has a knack for words these internet trolls should be jealous of!
What sparked this all was a Youtube channel run by Mark Dice.
“Dice, who has 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube, described his platform the “BEST CONSERVATIVE CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE.”
Reminder that this is what it’s like to be a disabled woman writer on the internet AND #ThisIsAmerica in 2019: A conservative YouTuber mentioned my recent op-ed about #UnfollowTrump. The comments? I’m fat, ugly and look like a blob fish, a parade balloon and a potato with a face. pic.twitter.com/ROczIXKNom
— Melissa Blake (@melissablake) August 8, 2019
I swear, living behind the screen either desensitize these ugly people or rather, gives them unwarranted power to cut people down. This type of bullying is running rampant around schools and even professionals adults. Normally people would internalize this hurt, but not Melissa.
She posted to Twitter, standing up to the trolls!
During the last round of trollgate, people said that I should be banned from posting photos of myself because I’m too ugly. So I’d just like to commemorate the occasion with these 3 selfies… 📸😉👋🏻 pic.twitter.com/9ZuSYFOtwv
— Melissa Blake (@melissablake) September 7, 2019
“During the last round of trollgate, people said that I should be banned from posting photos of myself because I’m too ugly. So I’d just like to commemorate the occasion with these 3 selfies..”
New follower here! 👋🏼 so just thought to say, Hello beautiful!!! pic.twitter.com/WUXggJKKzK
— Azadeh Monzavi (@monzavi_azadeh) September 8, 2019
Her post received an overwhelming response with almost 300,000 likes and 28,000 retweets!
You are really lovely and your face is full of kindness & wisdom and courage – they are the truly ugly ones, not you. xxx (And your hair is the most beautiful red, as well – the rich colour of autumn leaves).
— Anne Louise Avery (@AnneLouiseAvery) September 8, 2019
And the comments were so supportive!
I think you look cute! You’ve got an infectiously happy face! And we need more disabled writers! 💙
— K M Tanner (@KMTannerAuthor) September 8, 2019
Blake didn’t stop there. She even wrote about it, of course! That’s what journalists do, they report and write from experiences hoping to shed light on dark issues.
“The dig at my journalism credentials doesn’t bother me, but you know what?? I’m getting so tired of people (read: men) thinking it’s OK to insult a woman’s appearance. Yes, my disability makes me look different. Trust me, I know that. I’ve known that my entire life.
And people wonder why I’ve struggled so much with self-acceptance when it comes to how I look and our society’s notion of what “beautiful” is. It’s because of comments like these — comments that dismiss me and deem me unworthy.”
This is just one more example of the type of ableism that people with disabilities face every day and it’s something I’m constantly trying to change.”
The magic here is that she states she’s trying to change, but NOT herself. She’s trying to change others in a positive light! She’s faced a life of adversity, discrimination, bullying and now this unfortunate situation. But Blake took it to a brilliant level of transparency!
The result of all this hate? Blake came out on top, receiving thousands of new followers and even, “an interview request from the BBC and an email from a book publisher!!”
Good morning!! I woke up to 26K followers, an interview request from the BBC and an email from a book publisher!!
IS THIS REAL LIFE?? I mean, I know it’s real life because I’ve got an op-ed deadline today, but…wow!!! 🎉🥰💋
— Melissa Blake (@melissablake) September 9, 2019
Cheers to Melissa for not standing down in this upsetting matter.
We wish her all the kindness, happiness, and success in this world!