Raines created a successful YouTube channel dedicated to her advocacy efforts rescuing foxes from fur farms.
Animal rescue activist and YouTube star Mikayla Raines has died by suicide, according to her husband. She was 29.
Ethan Raines announced her death in an emotional video he posted to her YouTube channel on Monday.
He said that for years his wife suffered from various mental health issues and struggled to cope with online criticism.
“She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life,” he said. “And it breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her.”
This is a case where you need to have hard skin before you’re allowed to be a streamer or content creator or celebrity. This is always only a matter of time.
So the responsibility lies with the person who wasn’t thick-skinned, and not with the (likely) hundreds of people who tormented them, got it.
Being sensitive and deeply affected by the treatment one receives from others is a normal human trait. It’s not a moral failing. In fact, the world would be a better place with more sensitivity.
It’s interesting how so many people won’t criticize the bad actors, but easily criticize those on the receiving end of this behavior.
I think that both of you are right. The people doing the harassing are despicable and are culpable for their actions. At the same time, it’s also unrealistic to become an internet celebrity without having thick skin.
The fault isn’t on the streamer. It’s on the potentially hundreds of people who don’t think about their fellow human beings before they hit “submit”. My heart goes out to Mikayla. I wish people could just be nicer to good people.
To give the commenter bit of credit… They didn’t say who’s fault it is. What they said, you put yourself in public? You have a target on your back. Some much larger than others. But the decision is ultimately up to them if they want to be exposed. Does that suck? Yeah. But that’s the reality. It’s not just sunshine and rainbows.