Alex Perry on losing his friend Charlotte Dawson to suicide after she was bullied online

‘I deleted Twitter after she died’: Alex Perry says losing friend Charlotte Dawson to suicide after she was bullied online led him to believe social media can be ‘harmful’

Charlotte Dawson died by suicide six years ago, after suffering relentless online bullying. 

And her good friend and fellow former Australia’s Next Top Model judge Alex Perry, 57, says that her loss led him to believe social media can be harmful. 

The fashion designer told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that he believes social media platforms need to be more responsible for what occurs on their watch. 

Tragic: Charlotte Dawson died by suicide six years ago, after suffering relentless online bullying. And her good friend and fellow former Australia’s Next Top Model judge Alex Perry, 57, says that her loss led him to believe social media can be harmful. Pictured together in 2013

‘You’ve got to have a duty of care. If you’re providing an environment – whether it’s physical or virtual – where people can be harmed, it is your responsibility to have the mechanisms in place,’ Alex said. 

He went on to say that his own behaviour online changed, revealing: ‘I deleted Twitter after Charlotte died because I just thought, ‘I don’t like that environment.” 

Alex says he himself began to be affected by what he saw said about him social media, and believed he was hated.   

Concerns: The fashion designer told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that he believes social media platforms need to be more responsible for what occurs on their watch

Concerns: The fashion designer told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that he believes social media platforms need to be more responsible for what occurs on their watch

Responsibility: 'You've got to have a duty of care. If you're providing an environment – whether it's physical or virtual – where people can be harmed, it is your responsibility to have the mechanisms in place,' Alex said. Pictured together in 2013

Responsibility: ‘You’ve got to have a duty of care. If you’re providing an environment – whether it’s physical or virtual – where people can be harmed, it is your responsibility to have the mechanisms in place,’ Alex said. Pictured together in 2013

‘I remember getting to a point where I thought, ‘People hate me. Like, I’m hated.’ And I wouldn’t post things. 

‘I didn’t want to do television anymore because I thought everyone hated me. Then I just thought, ‘Hang on a minute, I’ve got to step away and look at it in reality.”  

The fashion designer added that, ‘Charlotte should have been able to be online unencumbered. We all should.’ 

Hurtful: Alex says he himself began to be affected by what he saw said about him social media, and believed he was hated. 'I deleted Twitter after Charlotte died because I just thought, 'I don't like that environment,'' he said

Hurtful: Alex says he himself began to be affected by what he saw said about him social media, and believed he was hated. ‘I deleted Twitter after Charlotte died because I just thought, ‘I don’t like that environment,” he said 

TV host and model Charlotte took her own life after receiving abuse from vicious trolls on Twitter.  

Famed for TV shows such as Australia’s Next Top Model, the New Zealand-born star, who was just 47, had a history of depression.

Charlotte was found dead in her Sydney Woolloomooloo home on February 22, 2014. Her death was later ruled a suicide. 

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 

Horrific end: TV host and model Charlotte took her own life after receiving abuse from vicious trolls on Twitter. Charlotte was found dead in her Sydney Woolloomooloo home in 2014

Horrific end: TV host and model Charlotte took her own life after receiving abuse from vicious trolls on Twitter. Charlotte was found dead in her Sydney Woolloomooloo home in 2014