'Ghostbusters' Star Leslie Jones Quits Twitter Amid Racist Abuse
Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones should be celebrating the all-female comedy’s success at the U.S. box office over the weekend; the film pulled in $46 million, making it director Paul Feig’s highest opening film yet. Instead, Jones quit Twitter after being inundated with abuse by trolls.
The 48-year-old actor, who stars alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon in the big-budget reboot, noted on Twitter on Monday that she had received an influx of vitriol since the movie hit theaters last week.
An incredulous Jones even re-posted screenshots of some of the more hurtful tweets to her 168,000 followers:
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) 18 July 2016
I just don't understand pic.twitter.com/N9xWoXPttu
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) 18 July 2016
Earlier, Jones acknowledged that the level of venom she had received from anonymous Twitter users had increased following the Ghostbusters reboot’s release.
Ok I have been called Apes, sent pics of their asses,even got a pic with semen on my face. I'm tryin to figure out what human means. I'm out
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) 18 July 2016
But by Monday night, the comedian had reached breaking point. She tweeted:
I feel like I'm in a personal hell. I didn't do anything to deserve this. It's just too much. It shouldn't be like this. So hurt right now.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) 19 July 2016
I leave Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart.All this cause I did a movie.You can hate the movie but the shit I got today...wrong
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) 19 July 2016
Prior to release, Jones’ Ghostbusters character Patty Tolan, described as a “street smart New Yorker,” received some criticism for being a stereotype of African-Americans.
The film also faced an uphill battle from fans of the older all-male Ghostbusters films released in the 1980s who didn’t feel it should be rebooted with a female-led cast.
But, critics’ reviews have been more positive and its $46 million opening was the highest for a live-action comedy in the U.S. since Pitch Perfect 2 earned $69 million in May 2015.
A spokesperson for Jones wasn’t available for comment.
