In a cultural moment for our time, Chrissy Teigen has departed Twitter, deleting her account and citing the negative effects it was having.
“For over 10 years you guys have been my world,” Teigen wrote to her followers on Wednesday night. “But it’s time to say goodbye. This no longer serves me as positively as it serves me negatively, and I think that’s the right time to call something.”
The model and author had amassed a remarkably huge following of 13.7 million followers and it was with reason too. Her self-deprecating jokes about her famous husband John Legend and their children, her outspoken nature and comical banter had gained her legions of fans.
Teigen was always marmite though. More recently, her name had become a byword for an out-of-touch elite. She shared some unfortunate observations and controversial pictures, including one with her son last week with Teigen standing naked behind him.
Consider last year when Teigen shared the heartbreak of her miscarriage online: many praised her for her openness and honesty but she was equally criticised for these very same qualities.
It certainly calls into question the intertwining of bullying and social media, the former particularly being rife on Twitter. Teigen was far from a perfect person or poster, certainly, but for her to have to retreat from the platform for her mental health is unfortunate.
“My life goal is to make people happy,” she wrote as she departed. “The pain I feel when I don’t is too much for me. I’ve always been portrayed as the strong clap back girl but I’m just not.”
She also spoke about her experiences with low-follower accounts and trolls, which had left her feeling “deeply bruised.”
If you wish to keep following the lives of Teigen and Legend, her Instagram account boasts more than 34 million followers. And at this point, Legend’s own Twitter account remains active, with 14 million followers.
