Katherine Jenkins did not hold back in her attack on the “utterly pathetic” online bully she says has been harassing her for more than a year.
The matter came to a head when, as a guest on BBC Two programme Something For The Weekend, Jenkins had to answer a question that had been tweeted by her bully, believed to be an obsessed opera fan.
After keeping her composure and answering the question that had been sent in, Jenkins later revealed how the cyber-bully had been taunting her on the popular social network website, Twitter.
Jenkins told her Twitter followers the stalker had set up a false twitter account in her name and mocked her over the death of her father from lung cancer when she was teenager.
She claimed she had been harassed and that the bully set up a false account in her name to “destroy my character”.
Cyberbullying is the bullying of another person through technology, such as mobile phones or the internet.
In her statement, Jenkins said: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I’m not under any false illusion that everyone is going to like me but you have no right to harass me as you’ve done over the past year with comments like ’bring out the dead daddy story again’.”
The increasing popularity of sites such as Twitter, which allow celebrities to communicate with fans in a much more tangible way also means that they are more likely to be targeted by vindictive and jealous people.
Another celebrity cyber-bully victim in recent weeks is best-selling children’s author Emma Kennedy.
She has warned that anyone in the public eye can expect to find themselves cyber-bullied.
She said: “Quite why this is, is baffling to me. My main beef, however, is that women are treated very differently to men. Men’s abuse is about their words or actions. For women, it’s about their appearance and sexuality.”
The singer Adele has also been targeted by bullies as fans of Adele have barracked her over her weight.
It seems that Twitter users see the medium as a chance to attack celebrities without any responsibility, if it is said online then it is not really going to hurt anyone.
And it is not only famous people who are falling victim to online attacks.
With more young people now using the likes of Facebook and Twitter to communicate, there are more ways for bullies to prey on potential victims.
According to recent research, more than a third of young people have been affected by cyber-bullying.
Maggie Turner, chief executive of the Diana Award, says more needs to be done to protect young people.
Ms Turner said: “This report clearly identifies the shocking and increasing numbers of young people affected by cyber-bullying.
“These findings plainly evidence that funding and improved safeguards are still needed to better protect our children in society.”
The study showed that the highest proportion of those reporting cyberbullying told a friend or peer mentor (28%), she added.
“Therefore proving that peer-led programmes, such as the Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Programme, would provide the most appropriate vehicle of preventing and supporting young victims of bullying.”
And there are fears among youngsters that cyber-bullying will continue to rise.
The Anti Bullying Alliance, founded in 2002 by NSPCC and National Children’s Bureau, brings together over 130 organisations to help fight bullying in Britain.
It suggests that almost one in 10 British children are bullied online or by mobile phone.
Organisations involved in the education sector have voiced their worries over the issue.
Children’s charity NSPCC Cymru says online bullying is indefensible.
The charity’s national head of service for Wales, Des Mannion, said: “Any online bullying is offensive and demeaning and should be stamped out immediately. Bullying in all forms causes misery for thousands of children and is one of the main reasons children contact ChildLine.
“Twenty four hour internet access and an increased use of mobile phones means that cyber bullying is on the rise and young people can be abused by text or email in their homes.”
“Children and young people who need to talk can contact ChildLine, the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline, on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk.”
Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities and Criminal Information, said the Home Office will be seeking the views of victims and police for the next three months to look at ways of addressing the issue and possibly even bringing in a new law specifically aimed at stalking.
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Article source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/11/16/katherine-jenkins-stood-up-to-cyber-bully-and-so-can-you-91466-29783445/
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