This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
Comedian Seann Walsh has made the decision to leave Twitter, citing the platform's toxic environment and the constant barrage of abuse he has faced over the years.
Walsh, who rose to fame after appearing on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, has been a vocal critic of the platform's handling of online abuse.
"It's happened. I've become the guy posting from his notes. It started as a tweet but I was rambling. I can only apologise," he tweeted before announcing his departure.
Walsh's decision to leave Twitter comes after he revealed that he had been subjected to years of abuse, including death threats and racist comments.
"When I was in my mid-twenties, before there was even the term 'troll', I had a TV show. It wasn't good but I was young and inexperienced. Nevertheless, that should have been an exciting time in my life. But instead, I remember it for someone tweeting me 'What is @seannwalsh and how do we make it die?'" he said.
Walsh's comments come as part of a growing trend of celebrities speaking out against online abuse and the impact it has on their mental health.
"I must hear that echo in my mind every few weeks. I hate this place. It's poisonous," he said.
Walsh's departure from Twitter has been met with support from fans, who have praised him for speaking out against online abuse.
