While Instagram is still happily showing Ariel Winter getting her butt grabbed, the Modern Family star has taken a step back from Twitter.
She is, at least, explaining her absence, but it’s not good news.
Ariel has been driven off of the social media platform because she is absolutely exhausted by the constant harassment. And she might drop Instagram next.
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Ariel Winter’s rep explains why the Modern Family star has suddenly vanished from Twitter.
“Ariel has taken a break from Twitter,” the statement explains. “And engaging with commenters on her other platforms.”
You can engage with fans on just about any platform, but Twitter sometimes feels like nothing but that — and it can wear you out.
Ariel is stepping back “because of the constant negativity she experiences,” the statement says.
People on the internet can be cruel — especially if you are famous and especially if you are a woman.
“She needs a moment to breathe and enjoy herself,” the statement continues.
Of course. Everyone, no matter how famous, deserves that.
And the statement makes clear that Ariel wants to be able to live her life “without judgement.”
Good for her.
Ariel did not only speak up through her rep.
In her Instagram story, Ariel warned fans that she is “in the process of deleting all social media.”
Fortunately, her Instagram remains up — for now.
Back in 2016, Ariel was singing a different tune when she spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her use of social media.
“I don’t really think I’m telling myself, ‘You should post this, you shouldn’t post that,’ I feel like I’m just having fun,” Ariel said at the time.
She explained why she offered so many glimpses into her life, saying: “I like my fans to see what I’m doing.”
“I’m not going to fight with someone on my Instagram that tells me they don’t like my outfit or I should put my butt away,” Ariel said.
That’s good. It’s her body and, within Instagram’s rules of use (which totally allow butts), she can share whatever photos of it she likes.
“I’m sorry you think I should put my butt away,” Ariel said in 2016. “But just unfollow me.”
That is good advice. Unfortunately, not advice that many people take.
Instead, there are certain trolls who thrive off of eliciting a reaction — especially a negative one — from famous women on the internet.
These trolls are drawn to beautiful women, but for some reason seem determined to shame these women for showing (or even having) the bodies that these trolls often admire.
Of course, these trolls may also tell beautiful women that they’re ugly, or say anything else to hurt that person’s self esteem.
It doesn’t make sense, but vicious cruelty on the internet doesn’t have to be logical to drive people from the internet.
Look at how Star Wars actress Kelly Marie Tran was driven from Instagram by harassment. And now, Ariel Winter’s been driven away from Twitter.
We imagine that what’s changed for Ariel Winter since 2016 is that trolls are more emboldened than ever before. It’s also that she probably got tired of the hate.
What seems like a bracing difference of opinion at one point can get really old two years later.
Additionally, Ariel is happily in a relationship with Levi Meaden. A lot of hateful comments have been directed at their romance, at him, and his career.
It can be a lot harder to weather comments about someone you love than it is to see hate directed at you.
We hope that this well-deserved rest does Ariel a lot of good. We’ll certainly miss her tweets.
