A Twitter troll bought ads on the social network to spread a message to transgender people this week that they should kill themselves, the Guardian reported on Wednesday.
The user posted graphic images and offensive comments while pretending to be Caitlin Roper, an Australian activist and feminist campaigner, according to the Guardian. The troll used the fake account to promote a tweet that said trans people should kill themselves.
“Trannies, getting surgery won’t change your gender,” the tweet read. “It will only turn you into a deformed freak. End your miserable existence. Kill yourself.”
Outraged users tweeted about the hateful message and questioned why it was being promoted in their accounts.
Why the fuck is this disgusting shit being promoted into my timeline? What the hell is going on? pic.twitter.com/ZJ4TUwI70z
— Caspar Salmon (@CasparSalmon) May 20, 2015
(TW: transphobia)
Hey, @twitter, what the HELL is that promoted tweet? How on earth did that just appear on my TL? pic.twitter.com/vrPqlF24iy
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) May 20, 2015
Roper responded to the backlash and trolling by tweeting a message saying the troll account had been suspended.
Hi friends, someone has created a Twitter account impersonating me and tweeting hateful comments. Account suspended, thanks for your help x
— Caitlin Roper (@caitlin_roper) May 20, 2015
Wired magazine reported that Twitter charged $25 for the advertisement.