Dua Lipa reflects on mental health struggle following early career online bullying

• Dua Lipa experienced severe anxiety due to online bullying after her first album.
• The singer criticised snippet culture for magnifying momentary awkwardness into permanent labels.
• Lipa remains an active advocate for mental health and kindness in digital spaces.
  

Dua Lipa has reflected on the psychological toll of social media trolling, revealing how online bullying significantly impacted her mental health early in her career.

In a resurfaced interview with Attitude Magazine, the global pop star admitted to experiencing a "tonne" of vitriol following the release of her debut record.

She confessed that the constant criticism led to intense anxiety, causing her to question her worth as an artist and whether she was "meant to be" on stage.

The singer highlighted how "snippet" culture contributes to the problem, where brief, out-of-context clips are used to mock performers.

Recalling a viral video of her dancing that became a mocking meme, Lipa noted that critics often judged her stage presence without ever attending a live show.

This scrutiny created a lingering paranoia during performances. "I’d go on stage and if somebody was filming me... I was like, ‘They’re going to film it so they can laugh at me'" she explained.

Even her Grammy wins were met with online comments suggesting she was undeserving of the accolades.

Despite the trauma, Lipa has used her platform to advocate for a more empathetic digital environment, describing "cancel culture" as both dangerous and toxic.

She remains a vocal proponent for kindness, urging a communal understanding that allows people to learn from mistakes rather than facing immediate condemnation.

Having recently spent time in South Africa on safari with her fiancé, Callum Turner, the singer appears to have found a balance between her massive public profile and her personal well-being.