Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey says five-year-old daughter targeted with racist abuse
‘I’m quite thick-skinned. But when they send stuff about your child it’s a completely different ballgame,’ actor said
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.Soap star Chelsee Healey says racist abuse has been directed at her five-year-old daughter.
Healey, who plays Goldie McQueen in the Channel 4 programme Hollyoaks, said that the remarks aimed at her daughter often leave her heartbroken.
“My daughter gets sent racist abuse through social media,” she told the Daily Star.
“I’ve been sent a lot of messages about Coco. When it’s about an innocent child it’s not nice. It’s heartbreaking. But I try not to reply back. I don’t entertain it.”
Healey also explained that she herself had been the victim of abuse online, particularly during her time on Strictly Come Dancing.
She said: “When I was on Strictly, I got a lot of hate. It’s such a big show – that was the first time a lot of people had seen me. I got called ‘hippo’ and things like that.
“I’m quite thick-skinned. But when they send stuff about your child it’s a completely different ballgame.”
She told the tabloid that the trolling had become so bad that she had ceased reading reviews of the TV programmes she takes part in.
“If I get nice tweets, that’s really lovely,” she said. “But I don’t search because you’ll always find nasty stuff.”
However, Healey said she can and does seek support from her Hollyoaks liaison officer, whom she can speak to whenever she needs.
“And as a cast, we support each other. We are really close,” Healey added.
Coco features heavily on her mother’s Instagram account.
“I’m not sure where I would be without you Coco… Thankyou for giving me a reason,” Healey wrote in a recent post.
“My Lifer. The only person who will Never be able to get rid of me,” another caption said, below a picture of the pair sporting matching tutus.