Constance Wu says she attempted suicide after 2019 Twitter backlash
Written by ABR on 15/07/2022
Constance Wu has revealed she attempted suicide in 2019 following backlash she received on social media.
The Crazy Rich Asians actor returned to Twitter yesterday (July 14) to announce her new book and explain her break from acting in the last three years.
Wu explained that after she received backlash for tweeting about her frustration that her sitcom Fresh Off the Boat had been renewed, she attempted to take her own life.
“I was afraid of coming back on social media because I almost lost my life from it: three years ago, when I made careless tweets about the renewal of my TV show, it ignited outrage and internet shaming that got pretty severe,” Wu began in her post.
pic.twitter.com/7YScJ4Pvig
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) July 14, 2022
“I felt awful about what I’d said, and when a few DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I’d become a blight on the Asian American community, I started feeling like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore. That I was a disgrace to AsAms [Asian Americans], and they’d be better off without me.
“Looking back, it’s surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life, but that’s what happened. Luckily, a friend found me and rushed me to the ER.”
Constance Wu went on to address the conversation around mental health within the Asian American community: “AsAms don’t talk about mental health enough.”
“While we’re quick to celebrate representation wins, there’s a lot of avoidance around the more uncomfortable issues within our community,” she said. “Even my tweets became a subject so touchy that most of my AsAm colleagues decided that was the time to avoid me or ice me out.”
The actor concluded her post by saying: “After a little break from Hollywood and a lot of therapy I feel OK enough to venture back on here (at least for a little bit).”
A Crazy Rich Asians spinoff focusing on Gemma Chan’s character Astrid was announced earlier this year, although Wu is not expected to return.
For help and advice on mental health:
- CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably
- Help Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musicians (CALL MUSIC MINDS MATTER ON: 0808 802 8008)
- Music Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issues (CALL: 0800 030 6789)
- YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
- Time To Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination
- The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day
The post Constance Wu says she attempted suicide after 2019 Twitter backlash appeared first on NME.