Irish Instagram star Rachel Gorry was left in tears after a cruel troll accused her of “cashing in” on her husband’s death.
Rachel’s husband of eight years, Daniel, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in September 2018 – and sadly lost his battle on April 1, at the age of 29.
Taking to her Instagram Story, the mother-of-three explained that she’s been made aware of a page that has criticised the way she’s been living her life since her husband passed away.
“I really debated whether I was going to come on and talk about this or not because I hate giving trolls or keyboard warriors air time,” she said.
“But so many people have been messaging me about what they saw and asked me am I okay and all these different things. So I just said I would come on and address it.”
“I don’t know who is behind the page but the person was messaging me and saying my ‘crocodile tears’ and just calling me ‘the merry widow’ and just all these nasty messages.”
“I just blocked the page and I said no more about it because ignorance is bliss and obviously they are talking about me still and saying nasty things that aren’t true,” she explained.
“So my followers were sending me screenshots of the messages and then I have followers that were messaging them back sticking up for me or saying nice things and they were instantly blocked off this page.”
“I saw a lot of people texting me and saying, ‘Are you okay?’ I just wanted to come on and address it, it’s not new to me it’s been going on a while and they obviously have a grudge and don’t think I’m doing things right.”
“It’s not the first time they have said that I’m not grieving properly,” she continued. “Look I’m doing the best I can, I don’t want to come on here and justify myself.”
“People don’t see my life if you add up what I put on here a day like it’s probably 10 or 20 minutes.”
Rachel said: “I just think people setting up these pages and dogging people out of it – you don’t know the effect.”
“Look I’m fine because I know I’m doing the best that I can and I feel like I’m grieving the best I can and I’m doing the best for myself and the best for my kids. My family agree, my friends agree, Daniel’s family agree I have the support of everyone.”
“I feel like I’m doing a good job, you’re always going to be getting these people who are going to be saying nasty things but they could say something about somebody and you don’t know the effects that their words are going to have on someone and you really don’t know what that could do to a person.”
“You wonder do the people behind these accounts understand the consequences that their words could have on pushing someone over the edge.”
“I feel like people need to be held accountable for what they’re saying you can’t just go online and say these nasty things about people.”
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Rachel went on to explain: “I have talked to a lot of people through my page that have been going through grief and loss and I can honestly say that no two people that I have been talking to have been grieving the same.”
“I would love to know the person behind that account what is your definition of grief? Is it a step by step process?”
“I can guarantee you now if I was lying in bed and I was crying all day and every day and I wasn’t getting dressed and I wasn’t getting out of bed to mind my children that you would have something to say about that as well.”
“It would be not right and I wouldn’t be looking after my kids and I’m a bad mother. So the fact that I’m getting up, getting dressed, getting showered, washing my kids and feeding them we’re having a laugh, I’m trying to get on as best I can but I’m still not doing it right.”
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Rachel continued: “Another thing that was being said was that I’m cashing in on my husband’s death and I’m working and stuff like that and I should be spending more time with my kids.”
“So I think this is quite a funny one because, yes I have got some work through Instagram which I’m absolutely so grateful for but I have to laugh because I would be back to work now I would have to go back to work to support my family.”
“So I would have to leave my kids for 40 hours a week to go back to the job that I was in. So if I’m able to do a couple of jobs on Instagram and be at home with my kids is that not better than having to go to work and leaving them for 40 hours a week.”
Through tears, Rachel said:Â “I know how much I love my husband, I know how much he loved me. I’m really not getting upset over what was said, I just get upset sometimes talking about Daniel.”
“I know that Daniel would be very proud of me, his family have told me so many times how proud they are of me as have my family and my friends.”
“It’s just unfortunate that people feel the need to tear others down when there’s absolutely no need for it what so ever.”
“If anyone has a problem with me or wants to ask me something I have been very open and honest. So I’m happy to answer any questions that anybody might have.”
“I really hope that the person who is telling me that I’m not grieving properly ever has to go through what I have had to go through the last two years.”
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“But I can definitely say that I haven’t been living my best life since my husband passed away so that is totally wrong of you to say,” she added.
Rachel started her interiors page on Instagram back in January, and her following increased as she started documenting Daniel’s battle with Stage 4 cancer.
Daniel had encouraged her to start the page, so she would have something to focus on while his condition deteriorated.
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