Drew Afualo is taking a break from TikTok for mental health reasons.
The social media influencer known for calling out misogynists on digital platforms announced she would be taking some time off, making it clear she was not deleting her account.
“All content posted moving forward will be promotional, pre recorded or an ad. I love u. Take care of each other. Ill see u soon,” Afualo wrote in the caption of her TikTok video announcing her break from the platform on Tuesday, December 10 where she has over 8 million followers.
Afualo built a platform for herself and has been featured on Forbes Under 30 Summit for being a leader and a changemaker.
In a recent video, the social media star opened up about her viral stardom being “very violent” due to the “very particular niche” she gained a following in, saying she has been weathering “the storm for three-plus years” now.
“This break that I’m taking right now is not because of vitriol. And I want to make that very clear,” she said. “This isn’t because of hate I receive from bigots or misogynists of the many people that don’t like me on the app because of what I do, which is trying to fight for other marginalized groups.”
Afualo noted that her validation doesn’t come from men but from her external accomplishments. After building her platform, Afualo says she feels that her validation is no longer coming from herself, adding, “It feels like I am consistently pursuing it from people who love me or care about me or are in the groups that I feel so driven to protect and that again is an unhealthy and unsustainable way to view myself. Now I feel as if I am constantly trying to fit into everybody’s idea of perfection, which can range between many different things because people on this app see me in many different roles.”
“I consistently do not feel like enough for the groups that I feel so driven to protect and it has become truly unbearable to exit on this app with that knowledge because I care so deeply about so many different people on this app,” she continued. “It has gotten to a point now where I feel like I will never be enough and it is starting to affect my mental health so severe that I am violently ill. I am physically very unwell.”
Afualo said that last year, she experienced something similar when she was almost hospitalized, but it was her “strong support unit” that encouraged her to take a break but didn’t at the time, “because I never want anyone to feel like I abandoned them.”
“But I need to protect myself too because I matter too,” she added. “So that’s why I’m doing this and that’s why I need to do this.”
Afualo said that taking time off TikTok “will give me the opportunity to remind myself that I am a good person so I can fully show up for all of you.”
