Princess-Bliss Dickson, a 16-year-old influencer known for appearing on the Channel 5 show Blinging Up Baby, was found unresponsive in her bed at a supported accommodation in Waltham Abbey, Essex, in February. The teenager died from an overdose following relentless online abuse from trolls on forums like Tattle Life.
Mother's Grief and Online Harassment
Sophie-May Dickson, Princess's mother, described the agony of grief as feeling like her ribs were "crushing her organs" as she leaned over her daughter's coffin to say a final goodbye. However, even after the funeral, the nightmare continued. When she shared a photograph of the moment, she was met with accusations of using her daughter's funeral for "clout."
Years of Bullying
The abuse initially targeted Sophie-May, with over 10,000 posts about her and her family on Tattle Life. After Sophie-May deleted social media accounts, the bullies turned their attention to Princess. The teen, who appeared confident, once said, "I don't need to be liked by people who don't even like themselves." Some users created fake accounts to monitor her TikTok and mock her relentlessly.
Dr. Jessica Taylor, a chartered psychologist, noted that such trolls are often not basement-dwelling oddballs but professionals like teachers, nurses, and solicitors. She said, "People who stalk and bully children do not live in dark corners of the internet. They live among us."
Inquest and Police Investigation
An inquest opened at County Hall in Chelmsford revealed that Princess died from acute toxicity of a prescription drug used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Senior coroner Lincoln Brookes suspended the inquest to prioritize a police investigation. Essex coroner Sonia Hayes will take over proceedings later.
Funeral Photo Controversy
Sophie-May posted a photo of herself with her head against Princess's coffin, captioned: "The day I tucked my baby to sleep for the very last time. The hardest goodbye." Trolls accused her of attention-seeking, with comments like "Fashion show. It's more about your look than respect" and "How many takes to make it perfect?"
Sophie-May responded by explaining that she had hired photographers to capture the day because grief makes memories hazy. She said, "I would not of remembered every part of this day if I didn't hire photographers... I highly suggest anyone to hire people to watch back this day." She added, "I could hardly breathe. My legs were shaking. My body was so tight I felt like my ribs were going to crush my own organs."
Continued Abuse
Speaking to the Mail Online, Sophie-May shared that even after her daughter's death, the trolling continues. "Comments are online right now, with users degrading my daughter's memory and mocking my family's grief," she said. She emphasized that taking away Princess's phone did not stop the bullying, as it crossed over into real life at school.
