GBV activists support Bianca Coster’s bid to ban Chris Excel

Bianca Coster, the South African woman whose images have been used by infamous Twitter troll Chris Excel, is hoping to have the popular account banned on social media. And backing her are gender-based activists Women For Change.

This week, the Instagram influencer vented her frustrations with Penuel Mlotshwa on an episode of his podcast The Black Pen. In it, she revealed how the tweep’s impersonation of her led her to seek therapy.

The identity of Chris  – a self-proclaimed “catfish” – has never been made public. However the Twitter “celebrity” – with over 1,6 million followers – has refused to remove images of Bianca from his profile.

ALSO READ: Chris Excel the ‘catfish’: Who is Bianca Coster? [photos]

WOMEN FOR CHANGE BACKS BIANCA COSTER

During her interview with Penuel, Bianca Coster chatted about being “cyberbullied” by Chris Excel’s catfish account and his followers. She even revealed that the social media frenzy led her to seek therapy over her fragile mental state.

Reacting to Bianca’s podcast, Women For Change shared on their Instagram account: “This is so horrifying”.

Of the troll, the GBV activists added: “That this vile account has such a large following shows a lot for this country. Imagine using the profile image of someone else, while tweeting so much BS”.

ALSO READ: Chris Excel: 5 Facts about the ultimate Twitter troll

On Twitter, Chris Excel clapped back at the criticism. He shared: “Chris Excel is a brand, and it’s not affiliated with any person. Not even a single tweet came forward saying Chris is a female.

“This is a brand that stands with black men and brothers. It’s been reported many times, and it’s still standing”.

Watch Bianca Coster’s full interview below…

‘RIDICULED, INSULTED…AND TORMENTED’

Ahead of her podcast interview, Bianca Coster shared an Instagram post of how her life had been affected by Chris Excel’s actions.

The notorious Twitter troll – who began his account in January 2020 –  has over 1 million followers. 

ALSO READ: ‘Insulted’: Bianca Coster on Chris Excel ‘stealing her identity’

Bianca posted: “Over the past few years I’ve been ridiculed, insulted & just downright tormented because of the Chris Excel account on Twitter.

“I chose to keep silent & never to address it formally in hopes that this frenzy would eventually die out. This silence has been misconstrued as a lot of things most annoyingly being that I am in compliance with this bully.

“Despite my fears of backlash from his unruly supporters I finally decided to take a stand against this person publicly & to allow for people to get to know in essence the real ME”.

Bianca Coster claimed Chris’s cyberbullying had humiliated both her and her family.

She continued: “Constantly having to validate my innocence & disassociation with the account.

ALSO READ: Chris refuses to remove Bianca’s pic, slams Tweeps who ask

“Before there was Chris Excel there was me. A person in the flesh with dreams, goals & a full life to live. It’s my turn to tell my story, and hopefully that brings awareness towards cyberbullying.”