Bobby Norris, currently participating in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, opened up about the severe online abuse he endured during lockdown. The TOWIE star, 38, revealed in a candid interview a few years back that he was subjected to homophobic slurs, death threats, and even messages urging him to end his own life. Bobby admitted that the trolling had escalated “so much worse” during lockdown. While he understands that people often lash out when they’re hurting, he can’t comprehend why they believe sending such hateful messages would make them feel better.
The abuse became so intense that Bobby initiated a petition, End The Trend To Troll, a few years ago with the aim of making trolling illegal in the UK. He’s committed to raising awareness about this issue and had plans to meet with social media executives to discuss the problem. “I’d stand on Big Ben if I could because so many people don’t know how bad it is,” he expressed.
In May 2020, Bobby spoke to OK! about the horrific bullying he’s experienced and how he deals with trolls. Here’s what he said in his interview:
Hi Bobby. We’re sorry to hear about the trolling…
It’s so violent. It’s not like one or two trolls – I was getting death threats daily. I love my social media, but there is that dark side. I was getting comments like, “We’re coming to kill you,” or, “Go and hang yourself after this Instagram Live,” and, “Just kill yourself, the world would be a better place.”
That’s awful, Bobby…
I don’t understand what they’re getting from telling people to kill themselves. And it isn’t just people in the public eye who get trolled. Words hurt and can kill.
Trolls would have blood on their hands if they told someone to hang themselves and they went and did that. Would they be happy? There are people who are taking their own lives because of trolling. That’s why I’m so passionate about my End The Trend To Troll campaign because I can change this law. And believe me, I will change this law.
We don’t doubt it. Were you trolled more since launching your campaign?
The reason I went to Parliament and Downing Street (a few years ago) was because I knew it wasn’t just me receiving it, but my trolling has escalated so much more since trying to change the law. They’ve thought, “Shit, this geezer’s going to ruin all our fun and if it becomes a law, we won’t be able to get away with this.” If I called out every troll comment, my whole timeline would be trolls. I’ve become so immune to comments such as “faggot” or “batty boy”. I’m comfortable in my sexuality, but I know 14-year-old Bobby wouldn’t be immune to it.
It sounds terrible…
It’s hard enough coming to terms with your sexuality and being a teenager, but someone thinking it’s ok to fire abuse at you morning, noon and night – I would have really struggled. The ones I’ve begun to call out are physical threats, even though I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of calling them out, because in their sick, twisted minds they get off on it. It’s really important that parents who’ve got teenagers know what is going on. All walks of life are being trolled. When someone is suffering with their mental health, it only takes one message too many to do something silly. Thankfully I would never act on it. What upsets me is if I went and hung myself, I’m sure the trolls would be the first people to be all over social media saying, “RIP Bobby.”
How do you cope with the abuse?
I found it really hard, I’m not going to lie. No human being should have to look at their phone and have horrendous death threats. It really got me down. I had such an amazing response to my Get Gobby With Bobby celebrity interview page on Instagram, which I started at the beginning of lockdown, but there was even a point when I thought, “Screw it! I’ll delete all my social media.” But then I thought it’s the last bit of power I’ve got.
If I get rid of all my apps, then they’ve won. I took a couple of days away from it because I had to get my head sorted. I know there are going to be death threats and homophobic abuse, but I’m still going to do it.
Can you block the trolls?
Yes, but it’s too easy for them to just start up another account and then troll you from that. Until there’s a law I can’t see it ending. How dare they think they have the right to do that? What would their families say? I would be mortified if any of my friends or family was a troll.
Have you ever been worried for your safety?
How do you know these people aren’t going to rock up at the supermarket and carry out what they say they’re going to do? But I can’t sit at home and lock the doors and never go out because then they win. I’m not a Kardashian who has security with me constantly.
Have you thought about contacting the police?
No, because there’s no law in place in terms of trolling. It’s still not considered a crime. I hope they really listen to the End The Trend To Troll campaign because it will save lives and help with mental health. Nothing bad can come from it. I’m really confident I will change the law. If it takes me 18 months or 18 years I will carry on. The thought of my future children or grandchildren living in a world where they have to go through that, I just think it’s not right.
Do Instagram and Twitter need to do more to protect users from trolling?
I definitely think platforms could look at what’s happening. I’d love to meet with the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There must be hundreds of millions of people on these platforms globally and it must be hard to monitor every single comment, but there has to be things in place to stop it getting to that point.
Do you think people should need some sort of ID when starting a social media account?
Definitely, and not just for new accounts, but for existing accounts, too. There should be an update that requires us to put in a National Insurance or passport number. If people were accountable for trolling, there would be a massive decrease, literally overnight. It’s too anonymous. You have to give more details to a supermarket to get a loyalty card than you do to get on social media. I’m not bashing the social media platforms because I love them and what they stand for, but I’d love to show them what I’m going through. If I had the backing of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and Parliament on board, I think social media would be a far more positive place. It’s a no-brainer.
You previously met with the government’s Petitions Committee. How did it go?
I’m not from a politics background as such, so it was a little bit nerve-wracking. I’m passionate and care about it so I wanted to do the absolute best.
Do you feel like your hard work campaigning is paying off?
One hundred per cent. When I started this petition 18 (a few years ago), I didn’t think I’d be speaking to politicians and appearing in parliament twice. I’ve had a great response from them and I’m absolutely over the moon. It fills me with faith that the politicians agree with me.
Have you had messages of support from people?
I’ve had so many people reach out who are going through the same thing and they tell me to be strong. My fans and followers couldn’t be more amazing, but I’ve become a beacon for all the trolls.
I’d love to meet up with a troll over a coffee – I’ll even buy them a doughnut. There would be no confrontation and I genuinely want to know why they do it or what they get from it. I’d love to do it as a documentary.
