WWE NXT star Thea Hail has spoken out about the online harassment she faces on a daily basis, delivering an emotional and personal statement urging fans to reconsider how they treat wrestlers on social media.
Hail, 22, addressed the topic at length after saying she had been holding back for some time.
I've been wanting to touch on this subject for a long time now and I just haven't felt like I should, and now my opinion's changed," she said.
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The NXT competitor reflected on the sacrifices she has made to pursue a career in professional wrestling, having left home in the middle of high school to chase her dream.
She said seeing negative comments about her as a person — not just her work — takes a daily toll.
Every day, to look at my Twitter timeline or look at social media and see negative comments about me as a human being, is disgusting," Hail said. "I've worked my ass off for five years. For the biggest moment of my career. And you all take it as a joke.
Hail described putting professional wrestling above everything regardless of how she feels on a given day, and said the weight of constantly absorbing criticism from the public has become exhausting.
For five years, I have valued this industry to such an extent and I've valued others' opinions, and it is exhausting," she said. "I love this more than anything, but what I don't love is to constantly be torn down by other people, by other human beings.
She pushed back at the notion that negativity toward her could ever be justified, and challenged those who engage in online hate to reflect on their own motivations.
You feel the need to tear somebody else down to build yourself up. Are you serious?" Hail said. "I don't understand the level of hate in professional wrestling today.
Hail closed her statement with a direct appeal, asking fans to take a moment before posting anything negative online.
Please, take an extra 10 seconds before you put something up on social media," she said. "And remember that the person on the other end of it is also a human being.
