News
Rachel Riley in 'tears' over messages of support as trolls call for ‘boycott'
Twitter trolls sent the presenter a barrage of abuse using the hashtag #BoycottRachelRiley
March 29, 2019 08:55
Twitter trolls sent the presenter a barrage of abuse using the hashtag #BoycottRachelRiley
March 29, 2019 08:55Rachel Riley said she “burst into tears” reading messages of support on Twitter after being targeted by trolls on Twitter calling for people to “boycott” her after she spoke out about antisemitism.
The Countdown presenter refused to be silenced by people sending her a barrage of abuse from people using the hashtag #BoycottRachelRiley, which was trending on Twitter.
The outburst appeared to be triggered by Ms Riley's involvement in the 'Stop Funding Fake News' campaign, which seeks to dissaude advertisers from advertising on hyper-partisan websites like the pro-Jeremy Corbyn The Canary.
Ms Riley tweeted to MacMillan Cancer Support it should not advertise on the site and the charity responded saying it take steps to stop this.
After the barrage began, Comedian Katherine Ryan was among high-profile tweeters who shared one of Ms Riley’s posts to highlight the abuse she was facing.
Ms Ryan told Ms Riley that she “absolutely” stands with her against the “disgusting” antisemitism she and Jewish people experience.
Ms Riley replied: “Literally just burst into tears reading that. Thanks Katherine.”
The Board of Deputies said the hashtag “tells you just about everything you need to know about these people.
“Racists and racism-apologists, attacking a Jewish woman for speaking out against anti-Semitism.”
Dave Rich, head of policy at the Community Security Trust said: “#BoycottRachelRiley is what happens when you speak up about antisemitism.
“It's a double punch: first the antisemitism, then the bullying to shut you up. Except they should have realised by now, @RachelRileyRR will not shut up, nor will I and nor should anyone else #BeLouder.”
Ms Riley said she would "carry on regardless" and thanked the "ordinary decent people" standing up for her.
Haters gotta hate, racists gotta raist, and I’m gonna carry on regardless 👊
— Rachel Riley (@RachelRileyRR) March 28, 2019
To the ordinary decent people standing up for me - thank you!!! And remember to keep the dog and cat pics coming, it’s that time again! 😝🙈🐶😻#BeLouder pic.twitter.com/NQtTTkVSz3
Others shared their disgust at the hashtag and the abuse sent to the mathematician.
Writing on Twitter, David Baddiel said: “For the crank left to start a #BoycottRachelRiley hashtag, something they'd never do to a member of any other minority, is just an example of how, as far as they're concerned, #JewsDontCount.”
The abuse campaign target at Ms Riley comes after she has instructed a high-profile lawyer to pursue claims of liable against her.
Ms Riley and Tracy-Ann Oberman, a well-known Jewish actress, hired Mark Lewis to take legal action against up to 70 people they believe either posted libellous claims about them or sent them abusive messages.
The Countdown presenter, who has called herself a "non-religious Jew" started to notice antisemitism in the Labour party, and online, which she started to speak out about last year.
She immediately started to receive a barrage of abuse for discussing antisemitism online and responding by saying: "Sometimes I think it’s important to speak up even so. If moderates don’t, all that’s left are the others.”
In September last year she said: “My genuine worries are that antisemitism is spreading and being actively promoted among some in the hard-left due to JC’s [Jeremy Corbyn’s] words/actions/inactions. I hope I’m wrong but many replies I’ve had tonight suggest perhaps not.”
