Bobby Norris reveals online trolls send him death threats ‘almost daily’ in lockdown

Bobby Norris from The Only Way is Essex has told MPs that he has received almost daily death threats from online trolls during lockdown.

The reality star, 33, who has been in the cast of Towie since 2012, said that the frequency of the attacks meant he is now becoming “immune” to them.

Norris was giving evidence via videolink to the Commons petitions committee, which is considering evidence from people who have set up petitions as part of its work on tackling online abuse.

He set up a petition to make online homophobia a specific offence, and it was debated in Parliament last year after it attracted support from more than 150,000 people.

Norris set up another petition to hold online trolls accountable via their IP address, which was signed by more than 130,000 supporters.

Today he told MPs: “I have seen such an increase in online abuse and trolling, especially since lockdown, and since speaking about it to my fans and followers on social media I’m so aware it’s not just me and people in the public eye going through it.”

Tory MP Elliot Colburn told Norris that he had received homophobic abuse during the election campaign last December.

Norris responded: “I think I’ve become immune almost to the online hatred and homophobia. It’s devastating that I’ve had to build immunity to it.

“Whenever I receive online hate it’s always to do with my sexuality.

“As a gay man of 33 I think I’ve built up quite a thick skin and I do have a strength. That is not to say it doesn’t hurt and it’s certainly not right, but I’ve built up this immunity.

“I’m very aware that 14-year-old Bobby would not have that strength. And I hear from so many people, whether it’s parents or people suffering themselves, saying how is it 2020 and we are still having to face this and nothing is being done about it?

“We have come so far in terms of homophobia but we have still got a long way to go. I believe there is still this thing in people’s minds where they think what they say online doesn’t matter and it’s not the same as saying it to someone’s face, but it is.”

Norris said he had been receiving death threats “almost daily” during the lockdown and added: “If everyone knew they were traceable I believe we would see a massive decrease.”

He added that online anonymity is a problem and suggested users of social media should have to submit a form of identification when setting up an account.

And he said trolls should have their IP addresses flagged so they cannot set up new accounts after they have been reported.

Norris said: “If I was to go to a supermarket and sign up for a reward card, I would have to give more information than to access the internet that is in everyone’s homes and everyone’s phones.

“I feel like the law hasn’t had a chance to keep up with how big social media has become.”

He added: “I believe trolling is abuse and the content is often a hate crime, whether it’s homophobia or racism, if it’s a hate crime offline, it should be online.

“You do get full-time trolls, a lot of people say, ‘just block them’, but because it’s so easy to start a new account no sooner have you blocked them they have gone back online and started another one.”

This morning he posted a video on Instagram thanking his supporters and saying he would not give up on his campaign.

Additional reporting by Press Association