Loose Women’s Brenda Edwards reveals she has reported racist troll to the police

‘It was chipping away at me mentally’: Loose Women’s Brenda Edwards reveals she was forced to report racist online troll to the police after she ‘blocked them and they came back’

Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards has revealed she has reported an online troll targeting her with racist abuse to the police.

The former X Factor star, 51, told her fellow panellists on Monday about an occasion when abusive messages crossed the line into the realm of racism.

The mother of two said: ‘I had somebody troll me online but it was racial abuse.

Candid: Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards revealed on Monday that she has reported a racist troll to police

‘My thing is: You have an opinion, and I’m fine with that. But when you want to bring colour and use that as a weapon…’

Being completely candid about what she experienced, Brenda said:  ‘I was basically told to go back to the country I came from.’ 

‘It was chipping away at me mentally. It was scarring.

Not wanting to let what had happened be brushed aside, Brenda said she acted on what had happened: ‘I blocked the person and then they came back. I thought: I’m not going to stand for this.

Horrible: Brenda said that the abuse was 'chipping away at me mentally. It was scarring'

Horrible: Brenda said that the abuse was ‘chipping away at me mentally. It was scarring’ 

Opening up: Brenda's comments came in a segment where panellists were all sharing their experiences of trolls

Opening up: Brenda’s comments came in a segment where panellists were all sharing their experiences of trolls

‘I reported it to the police as a racial abuse crime. We should speak up. When it goes personal, it’s a bit too much.’

Brenda, who hails from Luton, is mother to children Jamal and Tanisha. 

In 2005, she finished in fourth place in the second series of The X Factor, and last year became a panelist on Loose Women, where she is often candid about difficulties in her personal life.

Last month, she opened up about her abusive ex-partner in an emotional interview on the show.  

TV star: Brenda first found fame in 2005, when she finished in fourth place in the second series of The X Factor

TV star: Brenda first found fame in 2005, when she finished in fourth place in the second series of The X Factor

The star revealed she would ‘blame herself’ for her partner’s violent and manipulative behaviour, but eventually left her boyfriend after he strangled her.

She told that at the start of their relationship, her partner was ‘charming’ and complimentary, but soon became controlling and aggressive. 

As his behaviour became increasingly volatile, Brenda would begin to doubt herself more and more, asking what she’d done to deserve it – but eventually realised she had to escape after he violently attacked her over some food shopping.   

She told: ‘I found myself asking “What have I done to deserve this?” and I literally found myself talking to myself saying “What are you doing Brenda” and that is a sign you’re not yourself.

‘There was an incident where I brought some apple pies and one of them was missing and he came home and freaked out and started strangling me. It was the strangling that made me say, “I have to get out of this”.’ 

But Brenda hadn’t told her family and friends about the abuse, and feared her situation could worsen if she involved others.

‘I hadn’t spoken to my family,’ she said. ‘And I thought if I spoke to my family they’d get involved and this could turn really ugly and I’ll blame myself. 

Brenda and her best friend planned her escape, packing a bag for her and her two children while her friend waited at the flat to take her to safety.

‘He turned up, I heard the keys in the door and felt the goose pimples,’ said Brenda. ‘There was bit of a tussle between me and my friend and him and we got out.’ 

Advice: Brenda told viewers that it is important to 'speak up' if they ever receive abuse

Advice: Brenda told viewers that it is important to ‘speak up’ if they ever receive abuse