14 DAY TRIAL // It’s difficult to imagine people would want to attack a 25-year-old woman who just lost her father after a long and very severe struggle with depression, but this is precisely what’s happened to Zelda Williams, daughter of the late actor and comedian Robin Williams.
The Oscar winner took his own life on August 11, with news of it breaking the following day, when his body was discovered. According to reports, he had been very depressed, and even though he was receiving treatment, there were very few signs of improvement.
Zelda is one of the 3 children he left behind.
Within hours after news of Williams’ death was confirmed, she began to be targeted by Internet trolls and haters, who criticized her for anything from the photo she had posted online with her dad, to her messages on Twitter and Instagram, and even her jokes.
Reports online indicate that she also received lots of death threats and even Photoshopped photos meant to be of her father’s lifeless body. Following such abuse, she has decided to take some time off, while she makes up her mind on whether she will ever return to social media.
She made the announcement on both her Twitter and her Instagram, and hasn’t posted anything since. Both accounts are still online but they will probably be deleted if Zelda decides returning is not worth the while.
Her most poignant explanation is on Instagram, where she says that she doesn’t want to stay present on social media if it means haters and the press are offered fodder for scandal.
“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,” she writes.
“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,” Zelda continues.
Yesterday, she and her brothers issued statements on Tumblr on their father’s death, with Zelda saying that’s the only time she agrees to speak publicly on the topic. Clearly, their beautiful, touching words on Robin Williams and what losing him means weren’t enough to stop some from spewing venom at Zelda.
My only statement. My brothers' are also online. Thank you for all your kindness and goodbye for awhile guys. xo http://t.co/ZOWEGNVsc5
— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) August 13, 2014
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