Sarah Silverman and Twitter Troll Remind World Sometimes Anger Is Just Pain Disguised
Sarah Silverman befriended a would-be troll on Twitter and helped him pay for his medical bills.
What the world needs more of is a story with a happy ending—and this one happened on Twitter of all places.
On December 28, comedian Sarah Silverman tweeted that she was always “open” to trying to understand the beliefs and motivations behind Trump supporters. Twitter user Jeremy Jamrozy replied to her with a single word—the “c” word, that is.
I’m open! Sometimes all I know is they have avatars like yours a lot. What is that about? Why not your beautiful face? https://t.co/E5KtTG7mhb
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) December 29, 2017
Silverman made good on her promise of broaching an open dialogue between opposing views, and reached out to the person behind this obscene tweet. Researching Jeremy Jamrozy’s twitter account, she gleaned that he suffered from serious back problems and drug use.
“I believe in you. I read ur timeline & I see what ur doing & your rage is thinly veiled pain. I know this feeling….I see it in you,” she tweeted to him, which led to a heartfelt dialogue between the two in which Jeremy also divulged that he was a victim sexual assault when he was eight years old.
“I was once a giving and nice person, but too many things destroyed that and I became bitter and hateful,” Jamrozy said.
The two discussed the financial challenges that Jamrozy faces in seeking treatment for his conditions. Silverman then turned to her 12.3 million followers, sharing his GoFundMe page with them and asking whether they could help him find a neck and back specialist. Silverman has now offered to pay for his medical treatment while Jeremy remarked that he would use the money he’d already raised to help others who also need help.
Yo SAN ANTONIO! Any kickass back/neck care specialists willing 2 help my friend @jeremy_jamrozy He has several slipped discs, no insurance, & can’t work bc of severe pain. Let’s get him back on his feet!! Who’s in?
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) December 29, 2017
“You don’t deserve punishment,” the comedian wrote. “You deserve support. Go to one of these support groups. You might meet ur best bros there.”
Jamrozy ended the exchange by apologizing for his attack and promising he’d seek help for his issues.
It’s no secret that harassment is commonplace on social media. Nearly four in ten Americans say they have been the victims of online harassment, and women are twice as likely to report being harassed because of their gender. Silverman’s exchange with Jeremy proves what many have always known in real-life exchanges: there’s always a cause behind someone’s wrath, and sometimes all it takes is good-old fashioned compassion to get to the bottom of it.
Have you had any social media exchanges like this?
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