Whitney Way Thore: "Almost Suicidal" Due to Online Bullying
Whitney Way Thore, star of "My Big Fat Fabulous Life," reveals that relentless online bullying and harassment brought her to the brink of suicide, especially after her mother’s death.
In an emotional interview ahead of the season 12 premiere, the 40-year-old shared how the onslaught of hate, including death threats, has been overwhelming. Thore has faced public scrutiny for years, but the loss of her mother, Barbara "Babs" Thore, who passed away on December 7, 2022, from cerebral amyloid angiopathy, made the vitriol even harder to bear.
"Since she died, the amount of hate that I got has exceeded anything I've ever experienced in my career. I was almost suicidal," Thore confided. Cruel comments about her mother have been especially hurtful. "When people tell you that your mother hated you... even though I know it's not true, that is the most horrific, horrible thing," she said, tearing up. "I'll never get used to that."
Season 12 also depicts offline harassment, with someone trespassing onto her property, egging her house, and leaving hate mail. "It's terrifying," Thore admitted. "Nobody should ever just accept or know that strangers are going to come to your house. I hate it."
Thore acknowledged the toll of being in the public eye, saying, "I've been traumatized. It’s scary and disheartening. I think that someone with less support than I do may not make it out. When I say that I was almost suicidal, I mean that 100%."
Despite nearly a decade of filming MBFFL and early warnings that reality TV "could ruin my life," Thore persists, noting that the show has also brought significant positive impacts. "Even when I was almost suicidal a few months ago, I still wouldn't take it back," she said. "There's been too much good."
To safeguard her mental health, Thore is limiting her social media use and focusing on her real-life support system, which includes her father Glenn Thore, brother Hunter, and close friends. "I'm generally doing a lot better, but it just doesn't go away," she explained. "I just don't think it's ever the kind of thing that I'll be able to get used to. And I don't think we should, honestly."
"My Big Fat Fabulous Life" premieres on Tuesday, July 9, at 9 pm ET/PT on TLC and will be available on Discovery+ the same day.