Taio Cruz quits social media after TikTok bullying gave him ‘suicidal thoughts’

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Taio Cruz has deleted all of his social media posts after revealing that he quit TikTok because being on the video-sharing app gave him “suicidal thoughts”.

The singer behind hits including “Dynamite” and “Break Your Heart” said that he had been the victim of a number of “hateful” comments and videos.

“My body was shaking and I had suicidal thoughts,” he said on Instagram.

“I pride myself on being mentally resilient so the fact that I felt that way, shocked even me.”

The 35-year-old added: “Some users posted hateful, mocking videos which spurred a feedback loop of negativity, where more and more people began to join in on the mockery and hate.

“My intention was to make some fun videos and interact with my fans, but some, whom I won't mention, were averse to that.

“For my own mental health, I would rather be where I'm welcomed, for now, TikTok is not that place. Social media shouldn't be like this, sadly it is.”

Cruz achieved fame in the late Noughties with two UK No 1s, and has written for fellow artists including Jennifer Lopez and Usher.

He joined TikTok earlier this week, but suddenly deleted all of his videos on Wednesday 23 September, posting the message: “Never in my life have I had a more negative experience than the past few days on here”.

“This community is not for me,” he said.

A number of fans sent Cruz messages of support on social media after his post.

TikTok star Dixie D'Amelio, who has 38 million followers on the platform, expressed her concern for Cruz and condemned those who had abused him online.

“This makes me so sad,” she wrote on Twitter. “Y'all bullied a legit music artist off TikTok in under a week… WHAT??? Just be nice.”

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She added: “Is being ‘top comment’ worth it? will that help you sleep at night? you are literally causing mental and possibly physical harm on another human being...does that feel good?”

A TikTok spokesperson told the BBC: “We're a huge fan of Taio and are extremely disappointed he has experienced negativity from a limited number of users.

“TikTok is a safe space for our community and we have a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment.

“We are in discussions with Taio's management and this matter is under investigation with our Trust and Safety Team.”

Cruz now appears to have deleted all of his social media posts, across platforms including Twitter and Instagram.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can seek confidential support and advice from Samaritans, 24/7 by calling free on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org