Gina Rodriguez Disappointed And Outraged By Offensive Comments On Social Media

Gina Rodriguez was extremely excited to share her cover story for People En Español, but instead was bombarded with criticism and hatred from her followers. The “Jane the Virgin” is not afraid to call out the haters. “It’s not a tool that anyone can use to cause pain. It drives me crazy that people would decide to be hateful on social media,” Rodriguez told Fox News. Despite how the actress says she is able to separate herself from the hateful comments, she refuses to stay quiet. “I am held accountable all the time for what I say, why shouldn’t everyone else?” Rodriguez asked.

The Chicago-born actress tried to connect with her Spanish-speaking fan base by captioning her photo in both, English and Spanish, and was mind-blown by the awful comments questioning her Latin-ness, and poking fun at her language skills. The haters went as far as to comment on Rodriguez’s “curled toes” and dress. “You know what saddens my heart, is when you try and celebrate an accomplishment with those that have helped you achieve it and no matter what, someone, anyone, has something negative to say,” Gina explained in her following Instagram post. “When did we decide social media was for hating, for putting others down rather than lifting them up. I refuse to participate in that kind of world.”

Rodriguez also invited fans to think twice and ask themselves how they would feel, or if they’d want others to say what they were about to post about themselves. What was most shocking for the actress was the level of racism within the Latino community. “There was an interesting conversation that … was deeper rooted than just what I look like,” she said. “It was an interracial Latino racism that was eye opening.”