Georgia Kousoulou has opened up about the impact terrible trolling has had on her life after appearing on TV for almost a decade.
The former TOWIE star, 32, met with Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan on Wednesday to discuss the new online safety law.
She has opened up in a new interview about how she at one point faced such overwhelming abuse on social media that she had to flee the country.
The mother of one told me The sun: ‘You just have the feeling that everyone is out to get you. I had to turn off my phone and leave the country, it got that bad.
‘Tommy took me along and I thought ‘does everyone hate me?’. It gets into your head and you start to believe these things – it’s terrible. People don’t realize the long-term damage they are doing with these messages.
Tough: Georgia Kousoulou has opened up about the impact terrible trolling has had on her life after appearing on TV for almost a decade
Tough: She has told in a new interview how she at one point faced such overwhelming abuse on social media that she had to flee the country (seen on TOWIE)
‘There were times when I thought, ‘What am I doing? Why am I doing this? Is it worth it?’ Because when you’re in that dark space, all you see is negativity.
Georgia explained that many of the mean comments from ‘fickle viewers’ were about her appearance and that despite growing up in the industry, she ‘struggled’ with that aspect.
She added that it scares her to think about how such abuse can make a young girl feel like she’s growing up.
The star went on to say that TOWIE was very supportive of her and that she had access to a therapist.
She further said that many people say she has to accept the abuse for exposing herself on a TV show, but she said others don’t have to accept that with a normal 9-5 job.
Georgia shares son Brody, two, with fiancé Tommy Mallet – who also appeared on the show – and says she wants the online world to be safer for him when he grows up.
It comes after Tommy revealed last month that he plans to tie the knot with fiancé Georgia next year, following their tragic miscarriage in April.
The former TOWIE star, 31, also revealed that the couple have not ruled out having another baby and that they will do ‘everything in their power to make it happen’.
Important: The former TOWIE star, 32, met with Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan (pictured) on Wednesday to discuss the new Online Safety Bill
Getting involved: Georgia arrives at Downing Street on Wednesday to discuss the issue
Horrifying: Mother-of-one told The Sun: ‘You just feel like everyone is out to get you. I had to switch off my phone and leave the country it got that bad’ (seen with TOWIE cast)
In an exclusive chat with MailOnline, the businessman, owner of the successful shoe company Mallet London, discussed his future plans with Georgia.
He said: “The wedding is going to be bigger than ever next year. We postponed wedding planning after losing the baby.
‘We were supposed to fly to Mallorca to plan the wedding and have some time for ourselves, but we didn’t go because we discovered the miscarriage.
“But we haven’t canceled anything. We are going strong, we have a big day to plan and Georgia needs it too.
“I want her to have the same middle name and she deserves to have a really good day now, and next year we’ll make that happen.”
The reality star, who shares son Brody with Georgia, has said he has always lived his life with the mentality of ‘what is meant to be, is meant to be’.
Family: Georgia shares son Brody, two, with fiancé Tommy Mallet – who also appeared on the show – and says she wants the online world to be safer for him when he grows up
Upcoming wedding: Tommy is pictured popping the question to Georgia in Mexico in 2022 after years together
He added: “All my life I’ve lived with what was meant to be, and I know it’s horrible to say that after losing a child, but for the past four months me and Georgia have been trying to find the next Just getting through the day, It’s tough.
“For me, I’m so lucky to have Brody, I’ve met people who have lost every baby they ever had, so I’m so blessed to have my baby boy.
“It’s clear that we will have more children, we will do everything in our power to make this happen.”
Tommy, whose fashion brand earned him a place on Forbes annual ’30 Under 30′ list in 2021, has since tried to use his fame and wisdom to give back to his community.