FKA Twigs Fires Back at Racist Online Abuse

FKA Twigs took to Twitter to address the ugly subject of racism in response to abuse she'd received from some Twilight fans and internet trolls following media reports that the singer is dating the movie franchise's star Robert Pattinson. (The actor had previously dated his co-star from the movie series Kristen Stewart).

Here is what the former FADER cover star wrote on Twitter on Sunday:

I am genuinely shocked and disgusted at the amount of racism that has been infecting my account the past week.

— FKA twigs (@FKAtwigs) September 28, 2014

Racism is unacceptable in the real world and it's unacceptable online.

— FKA twigs (@FKAtwigs) September 28, 2014

In Britain, there is a law that addresses abuses such as cyberbullying in electronic media. According to the Communications Act of 2003, if someone is found guilty of sending “by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” they could find themselves with a prison sentence or a hefty fine. In the United States, each of the 50 states has some type of cyberharrassment or cyberstalking legislation enacted. In 2012, Arizona was contemplating a bill that would make trolling a crime.

Ironically Twigs addressed the topic of privacy with The FADER's Emilie Friedlander back in February when asked about what she was most afraid of. “I'm a very open person," she said at the time. "I'm sure you've seen that of me—I've invited you to come and live my life like 100% honestly—but at the same time, I spend a lot of time alone. And I spend a lot of time staying inside my own skull. And I don't want to have to change that, you know? I love everything about what I do, but there's one sacrifice, which is that you sacrifice an element of your privacy. And I don't know, that's just something I'm learning to deal with in a very sort of calm, polite but strict manner, of what I am willing to do and what I am willing to give away, and what I'm not willing to give away. Within my privacy is where I find my creativity, so if too much of that goes, I’m done. No more talks. If I lose too much privacy, that's it: I'm gone. I would still want to create, but I'd just create quietly.”