Credit: Marc Patrick/BFA.com
Kyle Richards is speaking out against social media trolls, sharing that their toxicity and negativity have led her to consider moving to a farm outside of Los Angeles.
Amid her separation from Mauricio Umansky, 54, and romance rumors linking her to country singer Morgan Wade, 30, the 56-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star fantasized about life “off the grid” as she mentioned that even Teddi Mellencamp, 43, who is in the midst of a cancer battle, has been hounded by haters. She also explained how her four daughters deal with online criticism.
“Social media is just such a scary place,” Kyle told the Daily Mail on May 20. “It’s so toxic, it’s so negative. I can’t stand it. I’ve been telling my friends lately, that’s it, I’m moving to a farm. I am going off the grid. I’m going to live off the land. I don’t want to go on any social media.”
Although she sometimes thinks “it’s fun,” Kyle ultimately worries about young children and teens, and “how it affects their mental health.”
“It’s very unhealthy. I know there can be a lot of good things. A lot of people make money on social media and when we have something positive to share or we can bring awareness it is great. But there’s a very dark side to it that is very upsetting to me as a mom and as a human being,” she explained. “People will be so nice and supportive and then they’ll be mean about something else. Why can’t people just all come together and be kind? If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.”
“Even Teddi’s had comments. What is wrong with people?” she asked.
According to Kyle, she does her best to “tune that stuff out” and focus on “how to use your platform for the good.”
“I tell myself every day, these comments do not reflect the truth of what everybody thinks. We have to tell ourselves that all the time,” she noted.
Luckily, Kyle said her daughters have learned to ignore social media haters.
“It really has to start with what you teach them at home and how that impacts them and how not letting outside forces affect them. I’m fortunate that my daughters are very confident. They are bullied on there all the time. They let it roll off their shoulders and it doesn’t bother them, but they’ve also seen their mom be bullied,” she shared. “Kids shouldn’t have phones really young, and as long as you keep them off social media as long as possible. It’s getting harder and harder these days, but I think it really starts at home, that conversation.”
Most recently, Sophia Umanksy, 25, faced criticism after revealing she’s lost hair from the weight loss drug Mounjaro. Years prior, a then-14-year-old Portia was “harassed” for her appearance.
Also during the interview, Kyle said that she makes a point to have mammograms on RHOBH to remind women about early detection.
“My mom didn’t have a mammogram for five years. If she had, she’d maybe still be here today. So whenever you can use your platform to bring awareness is huge and to inspire people and give hope,” she explained.
Kyle then applauded Teddi for being “so strong” amid her cancer battle.
“To be able to show up here and give people hope and bring awareness, I mean, she’s inundated with people, who are saying that because of her they’re going to get a full body check,” she revealed. “Everybody I know tells me that and she’s saving lives by talking about it and by showing up and just being who she is. She’s giving people so much hope.”
