South African actress and media personality, Pearl Thusi, has found herself at the center of social media ridicule recently. Every post she shares seems to escalate into a larger controversy, prompting the “Queen Sono” star to address her detractors.
In a recent series of Instagram stories, Thusi appealed to those targeting her online, urging them to redirect their energy towards more pressing global issues, such as the conflicts in Congo, Sudan, and the widespread presence of terrorism.
“Guys, there are actual wars happening on this planet. I’m hearing about Congo, Sudan, there’s terrorists all over this planet, then you hear about the children in Gaza, people who were kidnapped in Israel. That is where our energy is actually meant to be right now,” she stated.
Acknowledging the public’s penchant for making fun of her, Thusi suggested channeling that energy into positive actions for the world. She emphasized the potential for using social media platforms to contribute constructively rather than engaging in online negativity.
“Can you take that energy that you are directing to try and destroy me or anyone else you don’t like and direct it to building and helping other people? Go and do something good with your life, you can leave the rest of us out of it, let us make our mistakes,” she added.
In a subsequent Instagram story, Thusi addressed the toll such online criticism can take on mental health. She emphasized the need for responsible reporting, cautioning against sensationalizing mild jokes and highlighting the potential consequences.
“We need to be careful because one day I would most likely really need support, and nobody is going to take me seriously because I was fine the last time. It’s almost like I’m the girl who cried wolf or cried depression or cried fear for the sake of attention, that’s really concerning… Can we please be careful because you could really be destroying someone’s support system… And I am also going to be more careful,” Thusi expressed.
The actress’s plea raises questions about the responsibility of social media users in balancing humor and sensitivity and the potential impact of online actions on an individual’s well-being.
