Iskra Lawrence writes poem in response to racist comments towards her relationship

The model and her boyfriend announced their relationship a week ago on Instagram

Iskra Lawrence has responded to racism directed at her new relationship with a poem she wrote that she hopes will “spread some kindness.”

The model and influencer uploaded a photo of herself and her boyfriend Philip Payne on Instagram a week ago, after acknowledging that paparazzi photos of the couple had already been shared.

In the post, honouring Payne’s birthday and announcing their relationship, Lawrence explained they were “robbed of the opportunity to announce our relationship on our own terms because of pap pics posted online.”

The 28-year-old then expressed the love she feels for Payne “even though it’s scary allowing something so pure and private to be out in social media for the whole world to pick apart and judge.”

However, since sharing her relationship online, Lawrence revealed in the caption of a new photo that the reactions haven’t all been supportive - as she and Payne have also been the target of racist comments.

“I’ve had such mixed feelings this week, so much love and support when for the first time in my life I shared my relationship online,” she wrote. “But the fears I had came true when Philip and I started receiving targeting [sic] hate and racism."

To combat the discrimination, Lawrence shared a poem she wrote to “share my feelings and spread some kindness.”

“Because love is love no matter what controversy we may face / our love will light up any dark place,” the poem reads in part. “Spread kindness and acceptance and put a smile on a face / Because we are all made the same and part of the human race.”

Lawrence’s post has received more than 300,000 likes and resonated with many of her four million Instagram followers, who have expressed their support for the model and her relationship.

“So beautiful, you make a lovely couple. Beautiful poem, kindness always wins Iskra,” one person wrote.

Another said: “You’re gorgeous. I had to face the same in my relationship but you’re proving that love is stronger than hate.”

“Seriously the most stunning couple. I don’t know how anyone could see it any other way,” someone else responded.