Blogger and model Michelle Marie (Twitter)
A Black plus-size model running @ireland’s Twitter account faced a barrage of racist tweets. The page rotates who is in charge each week. When Michelle Marie took the reigns, she wanted to discuss body shaming.
Instead, she ended up repeatedly defending herself against trolls.
The blogger explained that she hails from Oxford, England and moved to Ireland in 2013. She has lived there ever since and only goes to Oxford to visit.
In the middle of introducing herself and her self-love advocacy, she was sent this tweet:
https://twitter.com/billowax/status/767660334786023424
Another user proclaimed to be “more Irish” than Marie.
https://twitter.com/FuckTheMallcops/status/767692151928922112
The vlogger paused to address the issue on Aug. 22
A few people are finding issue with me being black and running the Ireland account, so let me just address that for a minute…
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
She explained she was not a citizen of Ireland nor an Irish descendant.
I am not an Irish citizen or of Irish descent. Correct. But I do live in Ireland and this account is to represent all residents here.
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
Marie cheekily explained that Black people can go where they please and do what they choose.
Black people can live in any country they like. We can read and write. We are educated. We can work. We can even tweet. I know, shocking.
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
Then she expressed her frustration at having to discuss race at all.
Just to be clear this was said tongue in cheek. It's frustrating that race is commented on in any context in 2016.
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
Afterward, Marie attempted to move on.
But this is not what I want to focus on, so I'll move on…
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
Some users came to Marie’s defense.
James Mitchinson called the abuse “disgusting.”
Michelle. Just a note of support from Yorkshire. The abuse you've had is disgusting. Your grace in rising above it, inspirational.
— James Mitchinson (@JayMitchinson) August 23, 2016
And Leanne Woodfull said she was “truly sorry” for the racist messages the body positivity advocate received.
https://twitter.com/LeanneWoodfull/status/767757341223682049
But before Marie continued discussing the lack of viable plus-size fashion, the racist tweets kept coming.
White nationalist @yespasaran_ called for Black people to leave Ireland.
https://twitter.com/yespasaran_/status/767765853416755200
And Joe Fabeetz denied Black individuals can be Irish at all.
https://twitter.com/fabeetz14/status/767710997599490048
@PreppyAltRight called the blogger an “invader,” accusing her of using the majority white country to get free medical care for her supposed oncoming health issues.
https://twitter.com/PreppyAltRight/status/767722609568088064
@Vanguard_PA referred to her as a “negress.”
https://twitter.com/Vanguard_PA/status/767698738735382528
Then, Marie decided to take a break from tweeting.
I need a break. I'm trying to get to the ppl who are tweeting good, insightful things, who I want to interact with, but there's so much hate
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
She called the racism “so horrible” and expressed disappointment over the “sad day.”
All this prejudice and hate 🙁 It's so horrible. And so much ignorance too. What a sad day.
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
She explained her English heritage. In addition to her white British genes, Marie is also half Guyanese and 25 percent Jamaican. Later, she mentioned her white English parents adopted and raised her.
Nevermind the facts. That genetically I'm quarter white British. Or that the 3rd world home I'm meant to f*ck off back to is England.
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
And she expressed her surprise over how her presence launched a race argument.
I had no idea that my mere presence and a few tweets would result in an epic race row *sigh*
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
“I have had eight hours of nonstop hate thrown at me,” she said in her final tweet on the matter Monday. “I am hurt, shocked and appalled.”
This is all I have left to say for today… pic.twitter.com/EYsZt4efj8
— Ireland / Rohana – LeCheileDND (@ireland) August 22, 2016
More racist tweets followed her announcement.
Chuck Knightly called her a “great ape ruining [everything] you touch.”
https://twitter.com/WhiteMights/status/767826995447234561
While Snake Plissken told her to “go back to Africa.”
https://twitter.com/Plissken81/status/767780441902284801
And @Jew_Goldstein proclaimed Ireland as a place for Irish only, questioning why Marie was the face of the Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/Jew_Goldstein/status/767773065321320448
After taking the time to sort through the bigotry, Marie returned to the Twitter page Tuesday, posting sparingly about her adoption and reading through responses.
