Former Nickelodeon and Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide star Lindsey Shaw stepped away from social media after she experienced backlash from a TikTok that saw her mocking Black creators.
Shaw took to Instagram teary-eyed after receiving major hate in her inbox for the above TikTok of her mimicking a popular new TikTok trend.
“I just have to say right now that the hate in my inbox is not OK, OK?” Shaw said in her Instagram story. “I did not mean anything in any kind of way. I am learning every day as I think everybody is. And this kind of hate just needs to evaporate from the planet no matter who it’s directed toward. Crocodile tears, no dude! This is my soul out there.”
Shaw continued by saying that she needs to step away from social media for her own mental health.
“I think for my own mental health, I need to take a step back from social media. I’m not here to offend or belittle anybody at all. I thought that the Millennial/Gen Z thing was a thing on TikTok. The intention wasn’t that serious, y’all.”
Shaw’s Ned’s Declassified co-star Devon Werkheiser also took to TikTok to voice his opinion on his friend’s actions and exit from social media.
In his post, he talked about Black TikTokers having their content stolen and recognized how Shaw might have overreacted in her response to the hate, but said that she meant no harm by her actions.
“People are out here standing for a principle and standing for people of color, which I get, but I’m also going to defend my friend’s well-being because friends don’t get canceled in real life,” he said. “Can she maybe be a little ignorant and defensive and reactionary? Yeah, but I also love her and will defend her and stand for her success in this life.”
