One Direction banned from inviting fans on stage after three become victims of online hate campaign

It looks like having a boy band crush or, God forbid a relationship, is a very dangerous occupation.

When reports about Caroline Flack’s alleged romance with One Direction’s Harry Styles broke, she received death threats from jealous fans.

But now the dedicated female followers of the boy band have turned on each other after some were invited on stage with the group.

Reports today have claimed that three girls have become the victims of an online hate campaign after they were serenaded by the pin-ups during the opening night of their UK tour last month.

According to the Sunday Mirror, a fan called Holly Gilbert and two other fans received abusive messages from others fans that were jealous that they had been invited on stage by the band.

And now One Direction have been forced to cancel the audience participation piece from their show, since the girls were attacked online.

Holly and the two other girls – believed to be aged 15 and 17 – were chosen at random to join the boys on stage after One Direction posted an invitation on their Twitter page.

But soon after, they started getting nasty messages with some saying, “I think you’re pathetic”, and “You’re kind of rat-faced”, as well as, “You’re not even pretty, why did Harry chose you?”

 When did girls get so mean?

Or maybe we have always been that way, just that we never had the media to express it. We really need to educate our young girls on the damage this anger can cause, however misplaced it may be.

My hope is that with the launch of girl bands like Little Mix, that seem to value friendship and staying grounded, this kind of hate will stop. I am already seeing signs of this and seeing some girls (including my own daughter) not be frightened to speak out about on-line bullying.

Here is a recent on-line rant from my daughter which to me says it all – I have copied it word for word so please excuse grammar and spelling

“It’s easy to say “everyone is beautiful blab” but I can Grantee you that every single person who has said that has called someone ugly. If you’re going to say something. Mean it, sure you may find people more attractive that others but that doesn’t mean that the ‘less attractive’ person won’t find someone who thinks they’re gorgeous. Just because you say they are unattractive doesn’t everyone agree with you? Everyone has their own opinion of someone. And another thing, if everyone is told to believe they are beautiful. What would you do if someone called themselves beautiful huh? You would most likely think they are vain, stuck up act. So if people think they are attractive they wouldn’t say as people would think less of them and to some extent, bully them. This just proves how messed up our generation is. There are some people out there who never think a bad thought about someone. People who are always nice to everyone and always have a smile on their face even when they are having a bad day, and I salute these people. Yes, they do exist as I know someone like this. And I would gladly take a leaf out of their book any day. Not a bad thing is said about this person, and if they is then everyone has a go at them, there needs to be more positive people in this world. More people who mean what they say and LESS people who bully others. It’s easy to say something bad about/to someone and call them ugly act. But think, how you would feel if someone called you ugly, or a bitch or any other name you can think of, you say you wouldn’t care, but really you do. If you didn’t care you wouldn’t mention it. That’s another thing; people who say ‘I don’t care what people say’ do care. As if they didn’t, you wouldn’t take time to write about it. 

I’m not saying imp a saint. I know I’m not. And believe me, I have called people ugly and bitches and stuff but I don’t feel glad about it. No hate for this as no one is perfect and everyone had regrets But I have also been a victim, been called ‘anorexic rat’ and ‘fat cunt’ which neither make sense as they are the total opposite. But they have had an effect on me, I’m always self conscious about how I look, how I dress, how my hair looks and about how much I weigh. I weigh 7 stone something and all me stupid or whatever you want but I feel fat. And I feel self Conscious that I don’t look like the tumbler girls, everyone has their faults. When you can turn around and say you are entirely happy with your life and who you are and you are perfect. Let me know”

My hope for 2012 that it will be cool to stand up and be counted and speak out against hate.