Jelena Dokic calls out body shaming social media abuse

Tennis legend Jelena Dokic has called out trolls on social media who have body shamed her relentlessly over the last 24 hours, saying the abuse has been “insane”.

Dokic, who is a commentator at the Australian Open, posted screenshots of some of the abusive comments she has received that have body shamed her. She noted much of the abuse has come from women.

“The ‘body shaming’ and ‘fat shaming’ over the last 24 hours has been insane,” she wrote on Instagram on Monday.

“Coming from everywhere in the world and a special shout to so much of it coming from Serbia as the last picture confirms. And yes a lot of them are women too. So much for ‘women supporting women’.”

Dokic said the most common comment she receives on social media is: “what happened to her, she is so big?”

“I will tell you what happened, I am finding a way and surviving and fighting,” she wrote.

“And it really doesn’t matter what I am doing and what happened because size shouldn’t matter. Kindness and being a good person matters which those of you that abuse me and others, are clearly not.”

Dokic said she would continue to fight for those who have been body shamed and abused.

“I am here, fighting for all those out there being abused, fat shamed….” she wrote. “I can’t change the world but I am going to continue speaking up, calling this behaviour out, using my platform for something good and to support other people out there and to give others a voice and try to make others feel less alone and scared.”

Dokic has been open about her mental health struggles, revealing last year that she considered taking her own life.

Last week, she called out other horrific abuse she had received on social media that referenced her mental health.

“Now that the Australian Open is starting, will Jelena Dokic try to kill herself like she does every year,” one commenter wrote in a screenshot shared by Dokic.

Dokic called it a “new low”.

“Almost 1 million people commit suicide in the world every year,” she said as she called out the comment. “That’s scary and so sad and then people like this disgusting person and a few others out there make fun of it!?”

“How disgusting. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services, you can call on 13 11 14.