Early last week, beloved actor Luke Perry died following a massive stroke. He was only 52 years old. His daughter Sophie Perry spoke out about the sudden and tragic loss of her father. Unfortunately, hateful trolls have been shaming Sophie over her grieving process — but Sophie is hitting back. Sophie took to Instagram to clap back against the hate. “Since my dad died,” Sophie’s post begins. “I have received a lot of attention online.” “And most of it has been positive,” she acknowledges. “But of course, some people just can’t be nice.” “And I’m here to say that I did not ask for this attention,” she reminds them. Her dad was the celebrity, not her. And she certainly did not want him to die. Sophie notes: “I did not ask to be thrown into some virtual spotlight.” Sophie shared this selfie along with her post. “And while I don’t mean to offend anybody,” she writes. “I’m also not going to cater to any one else’s needs and beliefs.” “I’m 18,” she reminds them. An adult, sure, but also a teenager who has done nothing to deserve so much ire. “I swear like a sailor,” Sophie acknowledges. “And sometimes I dress like a hooker.” “And,” she notes. “I support causes and you may not.” “And most importantly,” Sophie affirms. “I am going to laugh and smile and live my normal life.” So many people misunderstand the grieving process — perhaps because they are lucky enough to have never suffered a sudden loss like this. Apparently, some trolls think that Sophie is soulless for not sitting in a window and crying where paparazzi can photograph her tears. “YES I am hurt and sad and crying and beside myself with what happened to my dad,” she states. “It’s the worst thing to ever happen in my life,” Sophie reminds her followers. “And I am torn the f–k up over it.” “But,” Sophie writes. “I’m not going to sit in my room and cry day in and day out until the internet has deemed it appropriate for me to do otherwise.” Of course not. Life goes on — it’s just different and filled with bouts of sadness. “And if you knew my dad,” Sophie notes. “You would know he wouldn’t want me to.” “So,” she reasons. “You shouldn’t either.” “So to those of you shaming me for my language and my wardrobe and most disgustingly, my grieving process,” Sophie addresses her trolls. She then suggests: “do us both the favor and just unfollow.” Remember, that is always an option! “It’s a waste of both of [our] time,” Sophie concludes. She is absolutely right. Grief is complicated. In real life, people grieve in their own ways. So just because someone is not grieving as you grieved or not grieving like television characters grieve doesn’t mean that they’re not in mourning. Sophie and her brother, Jack, are grappling with this sudden loss. But they know that their father would want them to continue on and live their lives. It would be nice if people who consider themselves his “fans” could show some common courtesy towards the ones who love him most. View Slideshow: Luke Perry: Mourned, Remembered by Co-Stars and Friends
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Sophie Perry: Daughter of Luke Perry Claps Back at Grief-Shaming Trolls
