A teary Scarlett Moffatt has urged her fans to be kind to one another after she revealed she’d received a handwritten letter criticising her appearance.
The former Gogglebox star broke down in tears on her Instagram Story after initially sharing a snippet of the letter on the social media site.
The anonymous writer of the letter labels the star “atrocious” and “fat” after watching her Channel 4 show The British Tribe Next Door.
It goes on to say her mouth “looks strange like a pork chop sliced in half” and criticises the way she talks.
The 29-year-old told fans: “The fact someone’s sent me a letter as they feel so strongly about my weight is ridiculous. Turns out I’m not even safe from vile comments in the comfort of my own home.
“I WILL NOT let bullies like this get me down. I just wish they’d left me a reply address and I would have sent them some local charity details and clubs near them so they could occupy their time as they seem to have so much of it by helping others.
“Let’s just be kind to people as we don’t know what’s going on in their lives #bekind.”
The clearly upset reality star later posted videos of herself on Instagram Stories, telling her two million followers the note had upset her more than she initially let on.
“As funny as it is that someone went out of their way to send a letter, it has actually bothered us quite a bit because like, wow, you feel that strongly about how I look that you’ve sat down and written a letter,” she says.
In another video, Scarlett said she had been “inundated with lovely messages” from fans.
She added: “I just need you all to be a little bit kinder because you don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives, so let’s make a little pledge to spread joy.
“And if you haven’t got anything nice to say, just don’t voice it.
“I think the world would be a lot easier if that was the case. Be kind, is my message today.”
Scarlett’s documentary, The British Tribe Next Door, showed her and her family living in a replica of their house among Himba people in Namibia.
Useful websites and helplines:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.
