Warning: This article discusses cyberbullying and may be upsetting for some readers.
Chrissy Teigen has apologised for cyberbullying media personality Courtney Stodden after historical tweets resurfaced allegedly showing the supermodel telling the then-teenager to "take a dirt nap," and repeatedly harassing them.
Teigen tweeted that she was "mortified and sad" at who she "used to be" - someone she described as an "insecure, attention-seeking troll".
"I am ashamed and completely embarrassed at my behavior but that is nothing compared to how I made Courtney feel," she wrote.
Stodden, who rose to fame in 2011 after marrying 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison at the age of 16, now identifies as nonbianry and uses they/them pronouns. They went on to appear on several reality shows and release several pop singles.
In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Stodden, now 26, claims Teigen routinely attacked them online, including via private message.
"[Teigen] wouldn't just publicly tweet about wanting me to take 'a dirt nap' but would privately DM me and tell me to kill myself. Things like, 'I can't wait for you to die,'" Stodden told the Daily Beast.
Deleted-tweets from Teigen in 2011 obtained by Buzzfeed News appear to show the supermodel telling Stodden "I hate you" and to "go to sleep forever".
"Not a lot of people are lucky enough to be held accountable for all their past bullshit in front of the entire world," Teigen tweeted to her 13.6 million followers.
"I have worked so hard to give you guys joy and be beloved and the feeling of letting you down is nearly unbearable, truly. These were not my only mistakes and surely won’t be my last as hard as I try but God, I will try!!"
Teigen claimed she had tried to connect with Stodden privately, but "since she publicly fuelled all this," she wanted to publicly apologise.
"I'm so sorry, Courtney. I hope you can heal now knowing how deeply sorry I am…" Teigen wrote.
"I will forever work on being better than I was 10 years ago, 1 year ago, 6 months ago."
Stodden responded to Teigen's apology in an Instagram post saying they forgave her, but denied Teigen's claims she had tried to contact them directly.
Stodden shared a screenshot from Twitter that appeared to show the supermodel had blocked Stodden, writing: "The truth remains the same, I have never heard from her or her camp in private. In fact, she blocked me on Twitter."
"All of me wants to believe this is a sincere apology, but it feels like a public attempt to save her partnerships with Target and other brands who are realizing her 'wokeness' is a broken record," Stodden continued.
Stodden called Teigen out as "hypo-Chrissy Teigen" earlier this year after Teigen announced she would be leaving Twitter due to negative comments and bullying.
"It was just so hypocritical of her," Stodden said in a since-deleted video.
"I think, for me, because I experienced so much harassment and bullying from her when I was just 16 years old, just 17 years old, just 18 years old, at a time when I needed help. Like, I was being abused"
"It's so damaging when you have someone like Chrissy Teigen bullying children."
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
