‘Jarring’: Influencer Bella Messina hits back at ‘two-faced’ trolls

After receiving a hateful message from someone who had previously praised her, an Aussie influencer is calling out the double standards among online trolls.

Zara Powell

Influencers have long been targets of online hate, with some even hiring private investigators to unmask their trolls — and now podcaster Bella Messina is speaking out after a follower “accidentally” sent her a hateful message.

Laying bare the “jarring” contrast between public praise and private abuse, Messina shared screenshots of the “accidental” yet harmful message she recently received from a follower on Instagram.

“Bella you aren’t even divorced yet and you’ve been … him a month f*** off c*** she’s delusional,” the message to Messina read, while intended for somebody else.

Adding to the irony, the follower had previously reached out to Messina politely to plug her business.

“Hey babe I have a small home business … I’m friends with Adrian (Messina’s ex-husband) from high school if you’re interested,” it read.

Messina told Confidential that she and several other influencers receive hateful messages daily, which has had a “profound impact” on her.

Supplied photos of Australian Podcaster, Bella Messina. Picture: Instagram

“It impacts our mental health significantly, which ultimately can have a direct impact on how we show up for work and create content each day,” she said.

“I am a single mum, and this is my sole form of income. If I can’t create, I can’t support two children.”

Messina acknowledged that while certain challenges come with any career, the relentless online bullying far exceeds what would ever be acceptable in other workplaces.

“The most unsettling part of messages that are often sent to us seemingly mistakenly is that nine times out of 10 (based on previous experience), the person has sent glowing earlier DMs expressing support and admiration (as was evident in my screenshot)... so to see the reality of what is actually said about you when these individuals think no one is listening is jarring.”

Messina left the user’s name visible in the screenshot she shared with her followers, saying public “naming and shaming” is sometimes necessary.

Supplied photos of Australian Podcaster, Bella Messina. Picture: Instagram

“It wouldn’t be possible to do every time — creators would never share other content if that were the case.

“But it’s a good reminder that your digital footprint on social media is forever.

“There is no agreement of confidentiality with direct messages on social media platforms. In fact, as part of Instagram’s terms and conditions alone, a user agrees for their messages to be constantly monitored by Instagram to detect behaviour that conflicts with their user guidelines like bullying and harassment.”

It comes amid a broader trend of influencers exposing their bullies.

Supplied photos of Australian Podcaster, Bella Messina. Picture: Instagram

Top Aussie influencer Indy Clinton recently revealed she had hired a private investigator to uncover the identities of people who have been “trolling,” “harassing,” and “defaming” her over the past few years.

Clinton told Sunday Confidential she now knows who the trolls are, and she plans to hold them accountable.

“This is such an important issue,” Clinton said.

“Some of the defamatory things which have been said about me in recent years are extremely distressing. It’s time these people are held accountable.

“At what point does cyber-bullying stop? When will these trolls be held accountable? If the platforms can’t help us, this is my first step in making a change.”