Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick, best known for her role as Vanessa Woodfield on the ITV soap, has opened about the horrific trolling and abuse she has received due to her sexuality.
The soap star revealed she has even received death threats just because she is a gay woman, Michelle has even on occasion had to involve he police over the matter due to the extreme and violent nature of the hate directed towards her.
The 46-year-old soap actor, who has portrayed the role of Vanessa for ten years, is married to Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks and the pair share a 19-month-old son Teddy.
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Michelle and Kate found their happy ending with each other after meeting on the Yorkshire soap and while friends and family have always been supportive of their same-sex relationship, they have sadly been subject to vicious abuse online.
In an interview with OK! Magazine Michelle said: "We’ve had a bit of trolling over the last few years. And there have been certain times when police have had to be called because there have been death threats.
"When they’re mentioning your son’s name and you’re just going ‘Really? I’m just in a soap you know – we’re not doing any harm to anybody.'"
Michelle says the root of it all is always because she is gay - and she's been told to 'burn in hell and die'.
Michelle, who came out in 2013 has become the victim of numerous attacks via social media due to her sexuality, the actress speaks of her sadness and confusion that some members of society chose to focus their energy on her sexuality rather than the many more important issues in the world.
Kate, who until the couple got together has remained relatively out of the public eye has since been subject to the same vile abuse as her wife. The 39-year-old showrunner, who has also worked on Coronation Street and Hollyoaks said: “It’s all pretty horrific, isn’t it?
“The majority of people are really wonderful and supportive, but, you know, as great as social media can be, there is this real dark side to it as well."
What has been particularly upsetting for the couple are the threats that involve their son, Teddy. While the couple try not to let the trolls phase them, it does make them worry about the world in which they are bringing up Teddy, and any other children they may have in the future.
Michelle and Kate tied the knot at Graceland in Memphis in 2019 after around a year of dating, the couple welcomed their first child together (Teddy) the following year.
Teddy was conceived by IVF - Michelle carried their son, while Kate donated the egg. The couple spoke of their excitement to expand their family in the near future, saying they'd love for Teddy to have a brother or sister.
