Unfortunately, once you achieve any notoriety, you become a target for internet trolls. Whether racist, misogynistic, homophobic or a tortuous combination of all three, abuse comes for those with followers and fans.
Some celebrities ignore the trolls, while others clap back. American professional tennis player Sachia Vickery just announced she'll be doing the latter from here on out. According to The Undefeated, the No. 82 world-ranked player decided to get direct with the issue on Monday, June 11.
After years of racial abuse from internet trolls , I’ve decided to be queen petty and clap back at everything I’m sent from now on ????#warning— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) June 11, 2018
"After years of racial abuse from internet trolls , I’ve decided to be queen petty and clap back at everything I’m sent from now on," Vickery tweeted.
Several people responded to her announcement, including Serena Williams' hitting partner Jarmere Jenkins, who likened her to Thanos.
???? pic.twitter.com/LRRqXOlD6m— Jarmere Jenkins (@JarmereJenkins) June 11, 2018
Vickery gladly accepted the comparison and dubbed herself, "Thanos Jr."
lmao I’m comin for they necks out here they gon call me thanos jr. ???? sick of it bruh ????????— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) June 11, 2018
thank you .I’ve dealt with it for years . At some point u will have a day where enough is enough— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) June 11, 2018
lmao you’re right im still gonna clapback at a few tho just a little pettiness and leave it there ????— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) June 12, 2018
Vickery also had something to say to those who disagreed with her approach.
I understand them but u can’t comment on something u can’t relate to or haven’t experienced ????— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) June 11, 2018
I assume you aren’t black ? So you don’t know what it feels like to be called a slave, nigger, or monkey. Try to understand.— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) June 11, 2018
And Vickery wasn't kidding, either! She received some racist tweets in her mentions pretty much right after her announcement, and she got right to clapback business.
The Undefeated reported one particular troll tweeted "shut up your [expletive] mouth," to which Vickery responded with "be careful before you fly away with them dumbo ears.”
And that's just one tweet. Of many.
“If I shared some of it with you, you’d be shocked,” Vickery told The Undefeated. “Being black, I’ve been called monkey, slave, the N-word, housekeeper, the help — pretty much every racist name out there on planet Earth.
“I know you have to have thick skin to be on social media, but I’m human, and at a certain point there’s one day you might snap a little bit,” she added.
She got time today! And tomorrow, too! We stan a petty queen who not only fiercely serves tennis balls but clapbacks also.
