Tabyana Ali has come forward to talk about the toll online bullies and hate on the internet took on her mental health. The General Hospital star said that she’s received a lot of “life-threatening” comments on social media that have had a profound impact on her. Continue reading to see what she had to say.
Tabyana Ali Opens Up About Online Bullying
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The 22-year-old soap star first made her debut on GH on March 25, 2022. At the time, she was stepping into a role that she’d pined after for several years. As General Hospital fans know, she plays the role of Trina on the ABC soap opera.
While landing the role was “cool and surreal” for Tabyana, it didn’t come without its challenges. The GH star said that there is a certain amount of pressure to maintain a presence on social media in the soap world. According to Tabyana, there is an “unspoken [industry-wide] expectation to maintain a presence” and “help build your brand.”
She said that she’d never experienced internet trolls before. At first, she heard about them from another cast member on General Hospital. She continued, “Eventually I got my own taste of it.”
Like everyone else, Tabyana tried to do her best to ignore the negativity online. However, the comments eventually got to her. She shared, “I started having self-esteem issues that led me to start questioning my self-worth.”
Many of the comments and messages left on Tabyana’s social media pages suggested that she wasn’t as attractive as her costars because she is black. Others said that she shouldn’t be in an interracial relationship on screen. She continued, “They said that my value and talent didn’t compare.”
General Hospital Star Claps Back At Haters
The General Hospital star took to X to share her thoughts with her haters. “To anyone that hates me,” she wrote. “That’s absolutely fine. I don’t know you and you don’t me but regardless I’m sending you peace, safety, and prosperity… I also pray you touch some grass, see the sun, eat a delicious meal, and find something to do. Peace and love.”
Around the same time, the producers at ABC showed their support for Tabyana. General Hospital took to Instagram to remind viewers that “racism has no place in Port Charles.”
Tabyana took over the role of Trina in March 2022. Since then, she has faced plenty of criticism, but she has some advice for other young actors who might have similar problems.
“DO NOT take it personally. DO NOT give them your power by accepting what they say,” she wrote on social media. “PLEASE feel your feelings because you are human and that’s one of the most important parts of getting through hurt, BUT remember you are more than a social media comment.”
