A TEENAGER was targeted by vile online abuse from cruel trolls after being thrown out of a JoJo Siwa concert for wearing an “offensive” hoodie.
Anjali Kalsi, 17, was booed out of the gig at Glasgow’s SWG3 earlier this month after the Big Brother star spotted the jumper in question and asked security to hand it to her.
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The hoodie had a photo of JoJo stuck on it, showing an egg with her face on it – an image that Anjali was unaware had been made to poke fun at the star.
The American singer yelled at Anjali, from Glasgow, for “making fun of her” during her gig and ordered stewards to boot her and her friend out.
A clip of the incident went viral online, and the young music student quickly shared a grovelling apology video explaining that she didn’t know the story behind the photo.
In the short clip, Anjali explained that she and her friend Googled “funny JoJo Siwa picture” and printed off the first one they found, thinking “it’ll be funny and JoJo has a good sense of humour, so she’ll laugh as well”.
But the attention from the viral videos sparked a tirade of abuse from trolls who found Anjali’s social media profiles.
Anjali’s concerned mum, Lizzie, told The Scottish Sun that her daughter, who has autism, has been left devastated by the whole incident and the horrific messages she has received during the social media onslaught.
I had no idea the whole story behind the picture was really triggering for JoJo – I had no clue, if I had known that, I would have never of had done it
Anjali Kalsi
In cruel messages seen by The Scottish Sun, one sicko told Anjali “Please kill yourself”, while another nasty troll said: “I would have unalived myself long ago if I came out of the womb looking like you”.
Lizzie, 50, said the ordeal has had a terrible impact on the vulnerable teenager’s already struggling mental health.
The stay-at-home mum had gone on holiday to Turkey with her two other children and was anxiously waiting for Anjali to join them two days later, after agreeing to let her come late so she could go to the concert.
But the flight had not long landed when she got a phone call from her “distraught” daughter, who told her they had been kicked out of the gig.
She said: “I really wanted her to have a good time, but she called so upset, she was distraught and in bits, and her friend had to say ‘we got kicked out’.
“I was in a different country, and she said she was jeered at and booed out of a concert and didn’t know what she did wrong. Then it all kicked off, and she woke up to all this abuse.”
Anjali said: “It wasn’t very nice, I put up a video saying sorry, but I just got so much hate, and people started sending death threats.
“We were going to dress up properly for the show, but didn’t plan it properly, so we didn’t. We just printed the first picture we found and stuck it on our jumpers.
“Even in the venue, I was talking to a few people who said ‘she’ll find it really funny.’
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“I had no idea the whole story behind the picture was really triggering for JoJo – I had no clue, if I had known that, I would have never of had done it.
“I didn’t want to hurt her, and I never want people to be mean to anyone, but everything keeps coming back on me for starting worldwide hate.
“I did not mean it to be so upsetting or taken that way, it’s been horrible. I’ve been living under a rock ever since.”
Anjali said that she sent the apology video to JoJo personally, but claims the star has ignored it while sharing other “hate” videos of Anjali that include nasty comments.
She said: “The videos pop up on my TikTok, and it’s just horrible. She’s choosing not to accept my apology, and I’m still getting a lot of abuse.”
I put up a video saying sorry, but I just got so much hate, and people started sending death threats… it’s been horrible
Anjali Kalsi
Lizzie slammed JoJo for ignoring her daughter’s apology, adding: “Anjali is a 17-year-old autistic girl, instead of her [JoJo] acknowledging her video, she is adding fuel to the fire.
“Anjali wasn’t aware of JoJo’s insecurities; not everyone knew about the meme.
“That’s what people don’t understand, she is the least mean person ever – she’s the one that’s always singled out for being the kindest, most supportive girl.
“She supports people being bullied and tries to stop it, so people calling her a bully is so ironic because she is the least bullying person in the world.
“To be booed by hundreds of people is bad enough, to unintentionally hurt someone equally bad for Anjali, as she felt like a horrible person, then the social media onslaught.
“It’s been horrible for her.”
Jojo was approached for comment.
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