Photo Credit: Getty Images
Zelda faced cruel, vicious trolling on her social media accounts just hours after she posted a beautiful tribute to her late father Robin.
Just hours after posting a tribute to her father, Robin, Zelda Williams deleted her Twitter and Instagram due to users trolling the social media accounts.
The 25-year-old’s family is in the middle of grieving the loss of a member with the public inserting opinion and speculation in a still developing story.
THE absolutely vile act that has pushed Robin Williams‘ daughter off social media in the wake of her dad’s death. http://t.co/AS35jKJ7CW— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) August 13, 2014
Zelda has been open with the public since her father’s suicide Monday, August 11. In tribute, Zelda offered up the “only statement” to the press and public alike, in an effort to grieve in private.
My family has always been private about our time spent together. It was our way of keeping one thing that was ours, with a man we shared with an entire world. But now that’s gone, and I feel stripped bare. My last day with him was his birthday, and I will be forever grateful that my brothers and I got to spend that time alone with him, sharing gifts and laughter. He was always warm, even in his darkest moments. While I’ll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there’s minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions. It doesn’t help the pain, but at least it’s a burden countless others now know we carry, and so many have offered to help lighten the load. Thank you for that.
While not overly inclusive with memories, she thanked the public for honoring his memory and focusing on all the good moments he created.
To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favorite things in the world was to make you all laugh. As for those who are sending negativity, know that some small, giggling part of him is sending a flock of pigeons to your house to poop on your car. Right after you’ve had it washed. After all, he loved to laugh too…
Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I’ve ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We’ll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again.
Noting Williams’ statements are online elsewhere, she wanted the world to know that it was time for a break. “Thank you for all your kindness, and goodbye for awhile guys. xo”
I’m sorry. I should’ve risen above. Deleting this from my devices for a good long time, maybe forever. Time will tell. Goodbye.— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) August 13, 2014
Us Weekly reports that the “goodbye for awhile” turned into “maybe forever” after a the disgusting display of trolling. Some crass internet users decided to post “what appeared to be photoshopped images of her dad onto her account” from non-related, disgusting images. Why would someone do something so heinous? That’s a question foonly the trolls can answer.
Humphrey Bogart once said, “All an actor owes the public is a good performance.” And the children of stars owe even less.
A daughter battling with the bone-deep grief and pain had to share the cause of her father’s death with the world. There was no private response, grief, or rage. She can’t turn on a television, visit a website, or listen to the radio without hearing about the speculative reasons for her dad’s choice.
Gawker offers more on the incident. Zelda appealed to her users to please turn in the users for harassment since she physically couldn’t. Before deleting the plea, she posted: “Please report @PimpStory @MrGoosebuster. I’m shaking. I can’t. Please. Twitter requires a link and I won’t open it. Don’t either. Please.” Thankfully, both accounts were suspended.
Twitter spokesperson tells me a third account associated with trolling @zeldawilliams has been suspended. Good job, Twitter.— Brian Rie$ (@moneyries) August 13, 2014
She then updated the internet by apologizing for not being able to handle the gross imagery and harassment. Of course, she has nothing to be sorry for since it’s her father, her pain, not someone else’s to mock. She gave more information on her Instagram account.
I will be leaving this account for a but while I heal and decide if I’ll be deleting it or not. In this difficult time, please try to be respectful of the accounts of myself, my family and my friends. Mining our accounts for photos of dad, or judging me on the number of them is cruel and unnecessary. There are a couple throughout, but the real private moments I shared with him were precious, quiet, and believe it or not, not full of photos or ‘selfies’. I shared him with a world where everyone was taking their photo with him, but I was lucky enough to spend time with him without cameras too. That was more than enough, and I’m grateful for what little time I had. My favorite photos of family are framed in my house, not posted on social media, and they ‘ll remain there. They would’ve wound up on the news or blogs then, and they certainly would now. That’s not what I want for our memories together. Thank you for your respect and understanding in this difficult time. Goodbye. Xo”
So not only were people taunting the family, but scouring for photos. I visited his Twitter account not long after his death. I chose to not include any of his personal photos because of everything Bogart pointed out. Their family deserves to peace and privacy. I won’t be covering this story again, unless something like this happens.
This left me simultaneously angry and tearing up. We’ll miss your gentleness and wit here, @zeldawilliams: http://t.co/Cmt7CF4hW9— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) August 13, 2014
The family’s looking for compassion, not attention. They’re looking to walk into their house without having a billion photographers shoved in their face. His wife stated to share the happy memories. His kids want the same.
So listen to all the good things. Don’t troll the innocent lives that are now destroyed. And don’t desecrate his memory in an attempt to be edgy. On the end of these accounts are devastated loved ones. Let them be. Let them heal as needed. They are not to be held accountable for the deceased actors decisions, either.
Robin Williams gave the world so much. The public mourning, celebrity memories, and donations of time and effort to charities tells the true measure of the man. Depression won the war, but he battled valiantly.
If you want to follow the good spirit, remember that his loved ones are still alive. Defend the survivors—because that’s what they are and will have to become. They’re surviving a deep personal loss.
Knowing that so many children will be helped in his honor is all I could’ve asked for. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) August 13, 2014
There’s no need to be a jerk. The New York Daily News reports she’s been accused of not letting people in enough. No one is owed shared family pics.
Instead donate to her St. Jude’s fundraiser page in honor of her father, who had a deep connection to the charity. She wrote on Twitter, “The charity meant the world to him, as it does to me. Knowing that so many children will be helped in his honor is all I could’ve asked for.”
Be helpful; be hopeful.
To quote George Feeny from the series finale of Boy Meets World, “Do good.” Because that honors his memory. Don’t be a selfish, self-entitled human looking to cause pain for the sake of it; or demand memories that are not for public consumption.
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