Stephen Fry Quits Twitter After Backlash from Bag Lady Joke
British comedian Stephen Fry has quit Twitter amid backlash from a joke he made during the British Academy Film Awards about a costume designer's appearance. The award show host announced on his blog that he has deactivated his Twitter account, saying he was "free at last" from the self-righteous social media users who have polluted the platform. Fry blamed the "trolls and nasties" for pushing him to his "tipping point" and ruining the fun of Twitter in a characteristically florid screed against the social media site that quoted poet Rupert Brooke, Fry's departure comes after criticism from apparently insulting costume design award-winner Jenny Beavan's looks after she left the stage. "Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards ceremony dressed as a bag lady," he said. Fry later explained that it was a joke and that he and Beavan were friends, according to The Guardian. He appeared to have no regrets in bidding Twitter farewell. "I don't feel anything today other than massive relief, like a boulder rolling off my chest. I am free, free at last."