Sheridan Smith goes offline after trolls respond to her happy post about new man
Sheridan Smith has said she is going offline after a social media post about being happy with her new man provoked abuse from online trolls.
The 40-year-old actor and TV presenter asked "What happened to #bekind?" as she shared a screenshot of offensive and upsetting comments from the comments section of a tabloid newspaper that reported her latest Instagram selfie with new boyfriend Alex Lawler.
Smith wrote on Instagram: "Since I nearly crumbled once due to this abuse I promised myself I’d never look again but I did tonight. What happened to #bekind no wonder people give up. Daily mail shouldn’t allow these comments. They are hurtful and can finish people off. Things need to change.
Watch: Sheridan Smith set to write a tell-all autobiography
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"Going off line now. You guys on here are lovely but you can’t post anything without this sort of backlash. :( love you guys see you soon x"
#BeKind was a social media movement sparked by the death of TV presenter Caroline Flack.
The Cleaning Up star had shared a selfie with actor-turned-camera-operator Lawler captioned: "Life begins at 40."
Smith confirmed last month she was dating old flame Lawler, who appeared in Sky One football TV drama Dream Team between 2002 and 2005 and has since moved behind the camera.
She also posted a video of herself in bed, smiling as she shared a cuddle with her 16-month-old son Billy, writing: "My number one! My beautiful boy. Best role ever! Mamma."
Smith – who became a mother to Billy in May last year with fiance Jamie Horn – announced in July that she and Horn had separated after three years together.
The couple began dating in early 2018 after reportedly meeting through dating app Tinder.
During the first UK lockdown, a pregnant Smith acted in ITV's Isolation Stories from her own home.
The West End star also opened up about her mental health battles in ITV documentary Becoming Mum, giving producers exclusive access to her life in the four months leading up to the birth of her son.
This year Smith has presented BBC dog grooming show Pooch Perfect – which has not been renewed for a second series – and was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Read more: Sheridan Smith: 'My wild partying days are over now I've found peace as a mum'
She is also one of the celebrity panellists on new ITV show Starstruck, along with Olly Murs and Adam Lambert, which will see members of the public transformed into their favourite pop stars to perform with the celebrities.
The Cilla star – who lost her father Colin to cancer in 2016 – has previously opened up on her struggles with anxiety, panic attacks and alcohol misuse.
She is due to publish her memoir Honestly later this year.
Watch: Sheridan Smith announced this summer she had split from her fiance
