Influencer's Funeral Post Sparks Trolling After Daughter's Suicide
Influencer Trolled After Daughter's Suicide from Funeral Post

An influencer whose teenage daughter took her own life after enduring relentless trolling on a controversial gossip website has revealed she is now being bullied herself following a post from the funeral. Sophie-May Dickson, 32, shared a poignant picture of herself dressed in white, with her head pressed against the coffin of her 16-year-old daughter, Princess Dickson, along with other snaps from the service, including one where she smiles next to the casket.

Years of Online Abuse Culminate in Tragedy

Princess Dickson died at the beginning of February after years of online abuse and bullying on Tattle Life, a platform often dubbed a 'troll's paradise'. The schoolgirl had been the subject of uninvited attention on the 'toxic' forums since she was 14, facing repeated derogatory comments about her body and appearance. Now, Sophie-May claims she has become a victim of similar trolling in the wake of her daughter's death.

Heartfelt Post Met with Scorn

In a social media story, Sophie-May explained that the funeral photos were taken without her awareness, and she was 'only in the moment'. She highlighted that she had her phone in hand because she had been leaving the service and wanted one last moment with her daughter. In a caption accompanying a black-and-white post, she wrote: '26.3.26. The day I tucked my baby to sleep for the very last time. The hardest goodbye. How do you ever accept kissing your baby for the very last time?'

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She added that she 'did not broadcast this for views' and intended to share 'a very special moment of mine'. However, her heartfelt message was met with scorn by some users online. One woman commented: 'I find this totally bizarre. I remember burying my partner and I could barely get dressed or talk to anyone at all. I was blank, vacant and looked like a mess… couldn’t function, eat, sleep or even manage to keep a phone in hand. I know we all grieve different but wow social media and vanity has really got a hold of you. This is truly just weird.'

History of Abuse on Tattle Life

Sophie-May Dickson was originally the target of abuse on Tattle Life, with over 10,000 posts about her and her family on the website, where anonymous strangers criticise and spread gossip about public figures. Trolls are also said to have created fake accounts to monitor Princess's TikTok videos and ridicule her in the comments. Shortly before her death, Princess became disaffected and unable to attend school due to the impact of the online hate.

Ms Dickson previously reported the abuse on Tattle Life to Essex Police but was told it was a civil matter, according to a letter to Ofcom's chief executive. The letter also stated that she raised concerns about the impact the comments were having on her daughter's mental health in September 2024. A thread discussing Princess on Tattle Life remains active, with users still posting offensive comments, blaming her mother for her death, and making jokes about the teenage girl's funeral.

Public Eye and Criticism

Ms Dickson, who has more than 8,000 Instagram followers, has been in the public eye since 2014 after showcasing her children's lifestyle. She faced significant criticism for paying for her two daughters, then aged four and two, to have regular beauty treatments. Much of the hate has centred on Tattle Life, where she has been the subject of thousands of abusive posts criticising her looks, lifestyle, and parenting.

'For our family, the worst has happened,' Ms Dickson said. 'My beautiful daughter, who loved dancing and gymnastics, is no longer here because of the actions of horrific bullies, and the website that enabled and encouraged them. They enjoyed the abuse that killed my daughter - it was entertainment for them.'

Calls for Regulatory Action

In Princess's memory, Ms Dickson emphasised the need to prevent such tragedies from happening to other children. 'Nothing will bring my daughter back, but I hope that Princess's legacy will be saving other children's lives,' she said. She also requested privacy for herself and her younger daughter, Precious, as they deal with the heartbreaking loss.

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The platform's founder, vegan influencer Mr Bond, 42, was exposed after Donna and Neil Sands won a £300,000 libel payout over vile claims posted about them. After a two-year legal battle, Northern Ireland's High Court awarded the couple damages for defamation and harassment. Tattle Life, which attracts around 12 million visitors monthly after being launched eight years ago, has become an unchecked breeding ground for bullying, 'doxxing', and outright lies.

Political and Regulatory Response

A group of 20 Labour MPs have written to Ofcom demanding 'immediate and decisive' action to shut the site following Princess's death. In their letter, they stated: 'For over two years, since the age of 14, Princess had been the subject of sustained and escalating online harassment, stalking, and abuse by adult users of Tattle Life. This activity amounts to persistent online stalking and harassment of a child by adults.'

The MPs claimed that the site's owner, Sebastian Bond, publicly acknowledged on May 12, 2025, that a 'child was being targeted'. The thread was temporarily closed before being reinstated, with trolls then overwhelmingly focusing on Princess. Ms Dickson told the Daily Mail: 'I am currently living every parent's worst nightmare. I took my daughter's phone away, but this did not prevent the bullies from reaching her, as online and real life cross over in many ways.'

She added that even following Princess's death, the trolling continues, with users degrading her daughter's memory and mocking her family's grief. An Ofcom spokesman said: 'This is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts are with the Dickson family at this devastating time. Protecting children online is a top priority for Ofcom, and we're aware of serious concerns raised about abuse on Tattle Life. We are making urgent contact with the platform to understand the steps it has taken to comply with its legal duties under the Online Safety Act.'

Tattle Life's Response

A Tattle Life spokesman said: 'First and foremost, Tattle Life wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Princess Bliss Dickson. The community on the site has long been concerned for her welfare, having seen her publicly from a very young age. The gross misuse of this tragedy by those with vested interest is appalling and we urge everyone to look beyond the bias narrative.'

The spokesman added that Tattle Life remains confident in its moderation processes and compliance, welcoming open conversation with any relevant authority. They emphasised that it is essential for the Coroner’s office to be allowed time to perform its duties thoroughly before any conclusions are drawn.

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