‘Bandersnatch’ Actor Will Poulter To “Step Back” From Twitter For “Mental Health”

Will Poulter, the Black Mirror: Bandersnatch co-star who unveiled a new blond look for the Netflix film, is taking at least a temporary break from Twitter “in the interest of my mental health.”

“In light of my recent experiences I am choosing to take a step back, of sorts, from Twitter,” he wrote (see the tweet below). The We’re the Millers actor said his decision was prompted by the “inevitable negatives that are best avoided.”

Though he didn’t specify the “negatives,” he wrote that he accepted “all criticisms and it’s been a delight to learn that so many of you enjoyed what many people worked very hard to produce!” He thanked viewers who offered responses to “the material” (his italics), a statement interpreted by social media followers as pointed at trolls who criticized his appearance.

The interactive Bandersnatch premiered on Netflix Dec. 28.

“As we all know there is a balance to be struck in our engagements with social media,” Poulter tweeted. “There are positives to enjoy and inevitable negatives that are best avoided. It’s a balance I have struggled with for a while now and in the interest of my mental health I feel the time has come to change my relationship with social media.”

Poulter, who plays game creator Colin Ritman on the Netflix program, wrote, “I don’t want to appear unappreciative of all the amazing support I have received online for which I am genuinely so grateful.” The actor will continue his social media presence for various campaigns, charities and issues like anti-bullying.”

“I am privileged to have this platform. I hope that this shift to reduce my personal expression and increase the focus on issues that matter will result in a better outcome for everyone,” he wrote, concluding with, “This is not the end. Consider it an alternative path.”

Here is Poulter’s tweet: