Rosie Jones has learned to 'focus on positives' amid online abuse

Stand-up comedian Rosie Jones has had to develop "a thick skin" in the face of vile ableist abuse on social media, but says she's come up with strategies to deal with the trolls.

Jones, who has cerebral palsy, has spoken out about the treatment she receives as a disabled person in the public eye. She recently fronted a documentary special on the topic, in which she dealt frankly with abuse and threats she had personally received.

In an interview with The Guardian to promote her new Comedy Central panel show Out of Order, the regular The Last Leg guest explained the ways in which she has learned to handle the volume of trolling.

"I’d be lying if I said it didn’t upset me, but luckily I am surrounded by such a strong network of brilliant friends, family, colleagues who support me," said Jones.

The 33-year-old added: "Do I need a thick skin? Yes, I bloody do. But I’m able to switch it off, I don’t look at social media when I’m on TV and I focus on the positives – on the people coming up to me saying ‘I’ve never seen disability portrayed like you do', or if they are disabled, coming up to me and saying: ‘Thank you for making us feel seen and worthy and valid'."

Jones is joined on Out of Order by two other female comedians, with Katherine Ryan and Judi Love appearing as regular team captains.

Ryan and Love explained in the interview that they themselves had experienced abuse as minorities in the comedy world, but couldn't comprehend how much more extreme the abuse aimed at Jones was.

Jones said she'll continue to put herself out there as she believes that seeing people like her on screen is "everything" for representation of her community.

She added: "If one person can watch me and go: ‘If Rosie can do it, if she can be whoever she wants to be, I can'. That makes all the abuse worth it."

Out of Order will air on Comedy Central from 26 February.

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