I need to get this off my chest, because I’m tired of pretending this stuff doesn’t affect me. On my recent cosplay video, someone straight up commented telling me to unalive myself. Not “I don’t like this.” Not “this isn’t accurate.” Not even rude criticism. Just… telling another human being to die.
I reported it. And Instagram did nothing. They reviewed it and decided it didn’t violate their rules. So apparently, encouraging someone’s death is just… fine now? Let that sink in for a second.
I’ve also been getting bullied by other users saying I’m “not a real cosplayer.” As if cosplay is some exclusive club with a bouncer at the door checking IDs. As if you need a certain body type, budget, or skill level to be “allowed” to enjoy dressing up and sharing it online.
Cosplay is supposed to be about creativity. About loving characters. About expressing yourself. About community. Not about being torn down by strangers who think their opinion gives them the right to be cruel. And what makes this worse is the platform itself. When Instagram ignores comments telling someone to kill themselves, it sends a message: “This behavior is acceptable.”“That report button is just for show.” “That creators are on their own.”
That’s dangerous. Because you never know what someone is going through behind the screen. You don’t know if that person is already struggling. You don’t know if that comment is the one that pushes them over the edge. And when a platform shrugs and does nothing, they are complicit in allowing that environment to exist.
Instagram should be held accountable if someone commits after being told to kill themselves on their platform and being ignored when they asked for help. Period. This isn’t about being “sensitive.” This is about basic human decency and safety.
And to the people saying I’m not a “real cosplayer” — Who made you the judge? I make my costumes. I put effort into my looks. I love the characters I portray. I share because it makes me happy. That makes me a cosplayer. Full stop. You don’t get to decide if I belong. You don’t get to decide if my passion is valid. And you absolutely do NOT get to decide if I deserve to be alive.
If you don’t like my content, here’s a wild concept: Scroll. Block me. Mute me. What you don’t get to do is weaponize words and tell someone to die just because you don’t like how they exist.
I’m still here. I’m still creating. I’m still cosplaying. And I refuse to be silent about how broken these systems are and how harmful this behavior is. Because if it happened to me, it’s happening to others too — and someone might not have the strength to brush it off the way I’m trying to.
Cosplay is supposed to be a safe space. Fandom is supposed to be fun. And no one should have to grow thick skin just to exist online. Do better, Instagram. And to the bullies: your words say everything about you — not me.