“This is not the end. Consider it an alternative path”
Black Mirror actor Will Poulter has quit Twitter following the reaction he received following the recent special ‘Bandersnatch‘ – a feature-length, choose your own adventure episode with multiple narratives threads and endings.
Poulter plays eccentric game developer Colin Ritman, who takes a young programmer (Stefan Butler played by Fionn Whitehead) under his wing during the creation of a game that slowly begins consuming his entire life.
In a heartfelt post explaining his reasons for leaving the social media platform, the actor stated that he wished to “change his relationship with social media” due to his mental health.
According to the BBC, some viewers commented on Poulter’s appearance in the show, calling him “ugly”. The actor appears to address this in his statement, writing: “I”d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everybody who watched ‘Bandersnatch’ and for their responses (whatever they may be) to the material we created.
“I accept all criticisms and it’s been a delight to learn that so many of you enjoyed what many people worked really hard to produce!”
“As we all know there is a balance to be struck in our engagements with social media. 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 I feel the time has come to change my relationship with social media.”
With love… pic.twitter.com/JSm7oNLTsV
— Will Poulter (@PoulterWill) January 2, 2019
Poulter did, however, confirm that would continue his work posting for several anti-bullying campaigns and organisations.
The actor, who has won a BAFTA rising star award for his work on We’re The Millers, tweeted that he was nervous ahead of the release of the episode, before comments about his appearance were posted once it became available on Netflix on 28 December.
I’m so f@!%ing nervous, I can’t relax. The irony 👇🏻
— Will Poulter (@PoulterWill) December 27, 2018
He ended his statement by mirroring ‘Bandersnatch’ itself, reassuring fans that: “This is not the end. Consider it an alternative ending. With love, Will.”
