Pulling the plug: Why are stars ditching Twitter?

APD NEWS

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Celebrities are rich, famous and often talented. They live in mansions in Los Angeles or really big flats in London. They have millions of followers on social media but, sometimes, they feel pain too. At least that's what they say.

On Tuesday, Ed Sheeran decided to quit Twitter after being trolled for looking and playing like a "busker", but he is not the first to fall victim to online bullies.

Here are some other big names who were bullied online - or decided to ditch social networks for other reasons.

Rihanna

RiRi angered Instagram by posting topless photos of herself

After years of being in the tabloid spotlight for being a victim of domestic abuse, RiRi followed the footsteps of her abuser - rapper Chris Brown - and decided to call it quits.

But while Brown left Twitter, Rihanna left Instagram.

The reason? Her account was actually disabled after the star shared photos of herself in a topless shoot.

She returned just a few months later with a weird selfie turned upside down with the captions: "Hellurrrr #badgalback".

Leslie Jones

Jones was trolled by a Breitbart blogger and his followers, and decided to leave

Following the release of her poorly reviewed Ghostbusters reboot, the actress tweeted she was "leaving with tears and a very sad heart".

She was trolled. Big time.

Negative comments ranged from constructive criticism to racism, misogynism and bigotry. Jones was compared to an "ape" and confessed she was "in personal hell".

She returned two days later.

After, Twitter decided to kick off Breitbart blogger Milo Yiannopolous for inciting hate against her.

But then naked pictures of her were leaked online, and she quit again. And then she returned, again.

Stephen Fry

Fry has long had a problem with the nastier side of Twitter

With nearly 13 million followers, Fry was dearly missed. He first left in 2009, and then again and again and again.

The reason? Well first and foremost, there was "too much aggression and unkindness around".

And also because of all the "sanctimonious f ******* " who should "f*** the f*** off". "Let us grieve what Twitter has become," he once said.

Fry took small breaks here and there, in 2009, 2010, 2014 and then again in 2015. Just enough to keep us on our toes.

Graham Norton

The BBC presenter bid farewell to Twitter in 2016, saying he had "fallen out of love" with it.

The reason? Being trolled by haters, apparently due to a column he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

Also, he prefers Facebook "because I have real friends there who agree with me. But on Twitter, not so much".

He has returned, but only to promote his books and merchandising. Smart move.

Adele

Adele said she had been banned for posting drunk messages

Known for giving up on shows and social media alike, the Hello singer waved goodbye to Twitter in 2012, after a less than prolific social existence.

The reason? Receiving death threats and being trolled after her first son was born.

She later confessed she had actually been banned for posting drunk messages of unknown content.

"I mean I'm not a drinker any more," she said.

"But when Twitter first came out I was, like, drunk tweeting, and nearly put my foot in it quite a few times."

Lily Allen

Allen went through a stage of her life where she thought technology was evil

The singer first left Twitter, MySpace and email in 2009, renouncing all things "technology". That included her Blackberry.

The reason? At the time, Allen was already finding new ways to stay in the spotlight, branding herself a "neo-luddite" - meaning "anti-technology".

Also, her boyfriend "got really angry" because she didn't spend time with him.

She returned to all things "technology" however, and is now a prolific tweeter.

Alec Baldwin

Baldwin got into heated arguments with airlines and online news platforms

The number one Trump impersonator made his first exit in December 2011.

The reason? He was kicked off a flight from LAX to JFK for, according to Baldwin's tweet at the time, "playing word with friends while we sat at the gate" - whatever that means.

The conversation between Baldwin and American Airlines continued on Twitter and then he left.

He returned, obviously. And left again in 2013 after his wife was accused of tweeting during actor James Gandolfini's funeral.

He returned once again and has now not one, but two accounts.

Kanye West

Famous for his tantrums, the rapper is no stranger to controversial social media moves.

In 2012 he deleted all his tweets, but was kind enough to leave a message saying "will be back soon".

He returned and went on a rant about fashion and suit jackets during Paris Fashion Week.

Justin Bieber

Bieber was angry because users were being mean to his girlfriend

When it comes to confronting fans about the way they treat you, no one rivals Bieber and his Beliebers.

Known for telling them off - on and off stage, he also issued a warning on social media back in 2016, before shutting down his Instagram account.

"I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand," he warned his fans.

"If you guys are really fans you wouldn't be so mean to people that I like."

The reason? Some users made fun of his then girlfriend Sofia Richie, due to his relationship with Selena Gomez.

And then? This was actually the second time he quit social media. The first time he simply said: "My beloved beliebers I'm officially retiring". He didn't.

Miley Cyrus

Miley left Twitter because her boyfriend wasn't keen

In 2009, Cyrus left Twitter. The reason? Her boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth, told her to.

"FYI Liam doesn't have a twitter and he wants ME to delete mine with good reason," she tweeted.

She returned two years later.

(SKYNEWS)