Yahoo News Crosby faces backlash for mocking Love Island's Dr Alex
Charlotte Crosby is facing a backlash online after mocking Love Island contestant Dr Alex George's physical appearance.
The Geordie Shore star posted a tweet that took aim at the contestant's "vile pink face" and "horrendous sun burnt skin", while also slamming his treatment of fellow contestant Alexandra Cane.
"Dr Alex....WOW. I have no words for your horrendous sun burnt skin," she wrote. "AND BAD ATTITUDE, your bloody lucky to have one girl even take an interest in your wooden plank personality.
Dr Alex....WOW. I have no words for your horrendous sun burnt skin. AND BAD ATTITUDE, your bloody lucky to have one girl even take an interest in your wooden plank personality. The way you even thought you could mess poor Alexandra around makes me feel sick 🤢 #VilePinkface
- Charlotte Crosby (@Charlottegshore) July 20, 2018
"The way you even thought you could mess poor Alexandra around makes me feel sick #VilePinkface".
However, Dr Alex's family have since appeared to have responded in a number of since-deleted tweets, writing to Charlotte from the contestant's Twitter account and accusing her of "bullying".
"Some people are genetically more susceptible to sunlight, some people have slower metabolisms etc etc," they tweeted.
"With the number of suicides and mental health problems related to cyber bullying we would have expected better from someone with such an influencial online following. If anyone is bullied because of their physical appearance, don't stand for it or speak to others for help."
They also wrote on Instagram: "There have been far too many abusive tweets and posts of late for a number of the Love Island contestants. Please note that some scenes are staged and edited to create additional drama for your entertainment, I can only apologise to those that disagree with the Islanders actions.
"Whilst you are entitled to express your opinion on these actions, I kindly ask that you refrain from insulting individuals based on their appearance."
Very well said @DrAlex2018 and big respect to his friends running the account. pic.twitter.com/akUCTBUPRM
- Em Sheldon (@emshelx) July 20, 2018
Alex's account also called out Charlotte for supporting anti-bullying charities in the past (while the reality star herself has claimed to have been bullied), adding that Alex takes medication for his skin.
Others called out Charlotte, who recently opened up about her relationship with Islander Adam, for her tweet on the social media site:
Criticising someone’s behaviour is hugely different to criticising their appearance. No one would be saying it was bullying if this was just about how Alex acted, but the tweet was unnecessarily personal and cruel
- Jo Paterson (@_jopaterson) July 20, 2018
And you of all people should understand why people leave reality tv with a string of mental health problems, due to online trolling... say what he did was bad, but don’t pick in his looks.
I used to look up to you, but you’re being as bad as the rest of the trolls.- Lizzy Beynon (@LizzyBeynon) July 20, 2018
Cannot believe you’ve written this tweet! What a horrendous thing to say. You constantly go on about trolling but you are doing exactly that! #doublestandards
- Molly Wilson (@mollyawilson) July 20, 2018
I'm shocked that you have resorted to criticising someone's appearance. I think he's lovely & you've actually changed my opinion of you now. This is why so many people think that it's acceptable to bully & shame people because of appearance. You're supposed to be a role model.
- Kirsty Ann (@PandaEyesKirsty) July 20, 2018
However, Charlotte has since posted a tearful video on Instagram in response (via The Mirror), revealing that she herself has received "really nasty" messages as a result. Her account is currently set to private.
She later wrote a number of tweets about the situation, saying: "For all of you who know me know I'm many things: loud, outspoken and occasionally a bit crazy. One thing I am not is a bully.
"Being famous doesn't mean I am above having an opinion and expressing that opinion. Neither does it mean that....
Just wanted to clear up the Alex tweet. For all of you who know me know I’m many things: loud, outspoken and occasionally a bit crazy. One thing I am not is a bully. Being famous doesn’t mean I am above having an opinion and expressing that opinion. Neither does it mean that....
- Charlotte Crosby (@Charlottegshore) July 20, 2018
"I don't sometimes go in too hard especially when I see a girl getting treated shitty by a boy on a reality TV show, that's something obviously close to my heart. I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my animated observation of Alex's sunburn - it was not my intention....
I don’t sometimes go in too hard especially when I see a girl getting treated shitty by a boy on a reality TV show, that’s something obviously close to my heart. I’m sorry if I offended anyone with my animated observation of Alex’s sunburn - it was not my intention....
- Charlotte Crosby (@Charlottegshore) July 20, 2018
"And I don't want this to blow up into something it's not. After all this is love island and we're all on an emotional rollercoaster with it...."
and I don’t want this to blow up into something it’s not. After all this is love island and we’re all on an emotional rollercoaster with it....
- Charlotte Crosby (@Charlottegshore) July 20, 2018
She the accused Dr Alex's family of encouraging "TREBLE the amount of ACTUAL bullying back. But they are new to this all so it's understandable they incredibly over sensitive. But don't worry give it a year or so no1 will have much to say about alex...."
Love Island continues Sunday night (July 22) at 9pm on ITV2, where there'll be another dumping.
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