How can people be so cruel?

2016 hasn't been a great year what with so many celebrity deaths, the fallout from the Brexit vote and the daily shows of racism in America. One of the only things that seems to be getting better is the representation of women in Hollywood, with more and more upcoming roles being given to women and the hotly anticipated release of Ghostbusters featuring four actresses - Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Melissa McCarthy - did not disappoint. As the cast of Ghostbusters proved their naysayers wrong, earning more than good reviews by critics, it comes as sad news that one of the cast has had to leave social media because of bullying. Stand-up comedian Leslie Jones received an onslaught of abuse since rising to stardom because of the film and she chose to show the hateful comments she was getting on a regular basis. She showed the disgusting racist insults she bears witness too, with trolls online comparing her to apes and Harambe, the gorilla that was killed earlier this year.

pic.twitter.com/o4UgKxM5m3

— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016

Yep so sad these people have mothers and sisters and aunts. So fucking sickening pic.twitter.com/fEVLEgUfGh — Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016

I just don't understand pic.twitter.com/N9xWoXPttu

— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016

Exposing pic.twitter.com/jfSbGj3yCP — Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016

Her account was also hacked, tweeting homophobic abuse out of her control but the relentless haters did not stop nor help her get to the bottom of her confusion and despair.

THIS WAS NOT ME!! OK TWITTER IM DONE!! IF YALL CAN LET THIS SHIT HAPPEN I DONT WANT TO BE HERE. I DID NOT POST THIS pic.twitter.com/CDGbuOHJN4

— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016

Please help me find this fake Acct posting the most awful shit in my name. Help! pic.twitter.com/lp4RzVLb6f — Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016

After spending time trying to appease the racist trolls, the actress and comedian eventually decided to leave Twitter, admitting that she was crying over the nasty comments she endured.

I leave Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart.All this cause I did a movie.You can hate the movie but the shit I got today...wrong

— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016