Fats Timbo has revealed she struggled with loneliness and her mental health.
The Don’t Look Down star, 26, appeared on Friday’s Good Morning Britain as she joined their 1 Million Minutes campaign, which aims to encourage viewers to pledge their time to charities that tackle the issue of loneliness.
Speaking about why she felt compelled to get involved, Fats said: ‘I think it’s really important to spread awareness about loneliness and making sure that mental health is spoken about.
‘Personally I’ve gone through it and luckily I’ve gone through the other side so I just want to inspire other people to do that and show that it’s ok to feel like that and you’ll get through it.’
As well as supporting ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign, charities involved in the 1 Million Minutes campaign this year include Alzheimer’s Research UK, Grief Encounter, Re-engage, Royal Voluntary Service, Home-Start and The Chatty Cafe Scheme.
Fats Timbo has revealed she struggled with loneliness and her mental health as she spoke about her experience on Friday’s epsiode of Good Morning Britain
Fats’ discussion about mental health comes after she back at a vile troll claimed to have a ‘phobia’ of people with dwarfism.
The comedian and social media star was born with dwarfism and previously revealed she prefers the term ‘little people’.
Addressing her 280,000 Instagram followers, Fats revealed a troll had shared one of her Instagram posts that they captioned: ‘I would be scared just because she’s a midget, that’s my fear idc [I don’t care]’.
After Fats branded the troll ‘pathetic’, they doubled down in their response, writing: ‘that’s MY fear. Girl you can’t be mad that that’s what I fear… literally.’
Fats then told troll they ‘needed help’, which prompted them to respond: ‘didn’t mean to offend you, would you like me to delete it?’
Yet Fats was quick to call out the use of language in the troll’s post, responding: ‘I don’t really care tbh [to be honest] you’ve already said what you’ve said.
‘I’m just as human as you and your saying your scared of me. You called me a midget which is highly offensive. You wouldn’t like a white person calling you a n***a would you. It’s exactly the same.’
The troll then responded: ‘from your guys’ POV [point of view] I wouldn’t know how offensive it is, but that’s just a phobia I have (ik [I know] it’s weird) just like how people are scared of tall humans because of their own phobias or water etc., so yes I am scared I can’t control that.’
Fats went on to address the remarks in an Instagram video, revealing she faces hate and prejudice on a ‘daily basis.’
The Don’t Look Down star, 26, has joined GMB’s 1 Million Minutes campaign, which aims to encourage viewers to pledge their time to charities that tackle the issue of loneliness (pictured in 2022)
Shocking: Fats’ discussion about mental health comes after she back at a vile troll claimed to have a ‘phobia’ of people with dwarfism
Speaking out: The comedian – who was born with dwarfism and previously revealed she prefers the term ‘little people’ – educated the troll on her vile language
She told her followers: ‘Thank you guys for all your kind messages, I’m good. This is something I face on a daily basis, the hate, the prejudice, the nonsense, I just don’t post it regularly.
‘But today I thought I’m going to post it on my story because I’ve had enough of people like this and it’s time to name and shame because I honestly wanted to just scream sometimes.
‘Sometimes I have breakdowns, I talk about it all the time. But I thought today I’m going to stand up for myself.
‘I’m going to tell this girl that you having a phobia of people with dwarfism is wrong.’
Fats previously spoke about the use of language surrounding little people, telling BBC News last year: ‘Dwarfism is the medical term for it but I don’t like to be called a dwarf because I like to be called a human – I like to be called a person.
‘Dwarfism is almost making me sound like a mythical creature.
‘The “m word” – or midget – for me, has always been used as a negative connotation, so that is why I don’t like to hear it or people using it towards me.’
Social media star Fats found fame after appearing on Channel 4’s The Undateables in 2018 and recently took part in Stand Up To Cancer series, Don’t Look Down.
The show tracked a group of celebrities, led by Paddy McGuinness, as they took on TV’s scariest challenge show, training for a world first high wire walk, 100ft over the London Stadium.
Paddy was joined in the Austrian Alps by Beverley Callard, Anton Ferdinand, Kimberly Wyatt, Chris Hughes, David Ginola, Charley Boorman, GK Barry and Victoria Pendleton for training, where they were taught by high-wire walker extraordinaire, Jade Kindar-Martin.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
One to watch: Fats recently took part in Stand Up To Cancer series, Don’t Look Down, with Chris Hughes, Beverley Callard, David Ginola, GK Barry, Anton Ferdinand, Victoria Pendleton, Charley Boorman, Kimberley Wyatt and Paddy McGuinness