SADI SHAMES HATERS
Body-shaming and cyber bullying will not destroy me
► Says body shaming and cyber bullying will not destroy her ► “Cyber-bullying exacerbates depression” – mental health expert
Popular television presenter, events MC, singer and all-round ‘IT’ girl Sadi Dikgaka, the latest casualty of social media trolls, has hit back at “haters” who recently had a field day body shaming her on social media.
This happened after images of a bodysuit she wore on BTV show Flava Dome this past weekend, were circulated online, and hundreds of social media users posted nasty comments about her outfit and body.
The ill-fitting pink jumpsuit might have been a fashion faux pas but it has intensified talk that Dikgaka, who has always been slender and petite might have gone under the knife, or wears figure enhancing body shapers, to get her buxom figure, claims that she has slammed and would not be drawn into discussing.
But the beautiful lass with the million-dollar smile has not taken it lying down. On Monday she released a three-part video throwing shade at the cyber bullies.
She said some people think that if one is a public figure, then they have to live up to a particular image that represents perfection but she wouldn’t succumb to the pressure.
“Sometimes I nail it on the head, but on other days I am not so good, and that is still OK,” she said. Dikgaka also said she would not allow other people’s opinions to knock her confidence.
“May love and light find you. Regardless of what you say, I will always be content with who I am. The negative and intrusive opinions won’t take anything away from me as I am content with myself,” she said.
While attention such as that comes with the territory for public figures, being scrutinised at every turn can sometimes be too much for any one person to handle. Dikgaka has been open about her battles with anxiety and depression.
In a media interview earlier this year, she shared that the death of her grandmother and best friend had affected her badly and set her off the rails, forcing her to seek help.
She also shared that like many young women, growing up, she had suffered self-doubt and confidence issues, and felt that she was “not good enough” until she learnt to embrace herself wholeheartedly and accept that as much as she is not perfect, her best is good enough.
According to mental health expert Charlotte Siya of Valour Mental Health, cyber- bullying also has a negative impact on the emotional and mental wellness of many people.
“Depression is one deadly mental illness that many take lightly and it is things such as body shaming and cyber bullying that can trigger one, and result in them taking their own lives. It also kills their confidence and they end up wanting to isolate themselves,” she said.
She said bullying in general, is destructive, for both the victims and perpetuators. Siya laments that in the modern world of social media it has become easy to develop depression or even worse, to contribute to someone else’ depression.
“Body shaming and bullying are not new things. They have always been a negative part of society. Before social media, these things were whispered behind people’s backs.
“In today’s world, social media has given people the anonymity of hiding behind screens which increases the number of bullies,” she said.
Siya noted that entertaining bullying worsens it. “There will always be trolls who say nasty things to get likes or feel better about themselves. Our contribution is how we address these trolls.
“We must note that for every post that we like or react with laughter making fun of someone, we validate the negative statements made by trolls. Every hurtful thoughtless action that we validate with a like is us saying ‘This bully is right.’
“Social media allows us to hide behind our screens and mob mentality gives us the bravery to join in. So essentially, body shaming and cyberbullying worsen depression because we actively participate in them.
“If it wasn’t for our participation in it, cyberbullies would be lone comments on posts filled with kind words.”