Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Kevin Smith highlights abuse experienced by teenage daughter Harley Quinn Smith

'If you hate me (or my kid) this much, the better use of your time is to make YOUR dreams come true'

Heather Saul
Thursday 18 August 2016 17:26 BST
Comments
Kevin Smith and daughter Harley Quinn Smith
Kevin Smith and daughter Harley Quinn Smith ( Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Those in the public eye are painfully aware that trolls come with the territory on social media. But what is becoming increasingly concerning is the way their children are also becoming targets.

Kevin Smith has highlighted misogynistic trolling directed at his teenage daughter Harley Quinn Smith in a Facebook post which began: "What it's like to be my daughter" with a screenshot of a particularly vitriolic comment from one user.

The actor addressed the abuse in a post urging those attacking his daughter out of jealousy to redirect their efforts on exacting the “best revenge” by living well.

Addressing the comment directly, he wrote: "Here's a nickel's worth of free advice: if you hate me (or my kid) this much, the better use of your time is to make YOUR dreams come true, instead of slamming others for doing the same. The best revenge is living insanely well - so if you wanna get back at a 17-year-old girl for the grievous crime of enjoying her life, the best way to do it is to succeed in your OWN existence.

“Because randomly attacking others merely communicates how creatively and emotionally bankrupt you are. You think you have something to offer the world but others are getting all the attention? Don't b***h or punish the world: just create.

“Create something nobody's ever seen before and there is a good chance the world will notice you. You want attention? Don't make yourself mad, make something original and fun. Because if you're not being useful in this world you're being useless. Don't be useless: go make stuff that makes people happy.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in