Bines bullies beware Lawyer’s warning to Ashy’s online haters
ONLINE trolls that have forced Ashy Bines into social media exile have been warned to cool it – or face the consequences.
The Gold Coast fitness queen was hit by a tirade of abuse after being caught out parking in a disabled bay outside her Mermaid Beach gym.
Her husband Steven Evans yesterday confirmed Bines, who has three million followers on Facebook and nearly a million on Instagram, had gone on a 48-hour self-imposed blackout.
He said “no one deserved to be bullied like this” after his wife copped threats including “having her head smashed in by a golf club”.
But online comments directed at Bines could land the haters in hot water, says Shine Lawyers’ Defamation Solicitor Peter Coggins.
“They should be particularly careful about what they say in relation to those whose income is derived from social media channels like Ashy Bines,” he said.
“The Rebel Wilson case highlights the ability for significant damages to be awarded where defamatory comments can be linked to career damage.
“We have strong national defamation laws in Australia. Remember that posting online is a form of publishing, and should you identify someone in your post and make comments about them or their views which are disparaging or subject them to ridicule and contempt, then you may be sued for defamation and have to pay damages.
“You can’t “troll” or stalk anyone online either. It is a Commonwealth offence to use a carriage service to menace, harass or offend someone. The offence carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment or a fine of more than $30,000, and there have been successful prosecutions.”
Bines’ parking fails continued to unravel yesterday with a Gold Coast Bulletin reader sending in a photo of Bines’ Range Rover parked over a yellow line.