Coronation Street star Kym Marsh was forced off Twitter on Monday after receiving a barrage of ‘hate’ when she asked for clarification on who can work during the lockdown.
The 43-year-old had taken to social media after Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Monday and ordered a lockdown, saying she didn’t understand whether or not her self-employed tiler son David, 24, could work or not under the new rules.
The soap favourite asked: ‘What does he mean by travelling to and from work unless absolutely necessary?
‘I’m SICK of the abuse’: Kym Marsh was forced off Twitter on Monday after receiving a barrage of hate when she asked if her son could work during the lockdown (pictured in November)
‘What is considered absolutely necessary?? My son is a tiler going into other people’s homes? Can’t work from home so is this necessary?? I can’t do my job from home so is that ok?? I’m confused? Are you?’
But she was left stunned by the level of abuse she received from keyboard warriors and even stipulated that her son wasn’t working and that her family was staying home, but said she was using him as an example.
Kym posted: ‘Again the amount of ABUSE I’ve had tonight because I’ve asked a simple question, which by the look of it LOTS of people are asking! I’m SICK of the abuse on here!
Questions: Kym clarified that her son, David, 24, was not going to be going to work and would stay at home, but was using him as an example in order to understand who can and can’t work (pictured in 2017)
‘To all the selfish idiots we’re ALL going through the same terrifying s***! For once take your nasty heads off.
‘I’m gonna sign off now before I start telling people exactly what I think of them! Too many have opinions when they know nothing! Self employed people are going to go UNDER!!! How many care about that!!! Goodnight.’
She continued: ‘Anyway goodnight twitter I’m done with the hate on here! I’m off for a break from the absolute poison here! At times like this you would expect help and support, instead you get hatred spite and nastiness. I’m off! Enjoy.’
Sad: Kym was very upset by some of the hate she received after asking her questions
Kym did return to Twitter on Tuesday morning after Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham posted a little update to provide clarity on the matter.
He wrote: ‘OK, final tweet tonight everyone. Have now spoken to No10 & had it confirmed that people CAN leave home to work – as long as they fully observe the 2m distancing rule.
‘Seems to me to be in conflict with the big #StayAtHome message. But that’s the official policy. Over & out!’
Confused: Kym returned to Twitter on Tuesday and emphasised how confusing she had found Boris’s speech
Kym added: ‘So THIS is what I was trying to point out last night and got abused for it! I asked for clarity over the work thing and there it is!
‘Personally I think it goes against the message. Surely if we are staying home then we should be staying home full stop?
‘These are scary times. For everyone. Hopefully this lock down will work and people make the right choices.
‘There is a lot of uncertainty and also anger right now from lots of people I just hope people can unite rather than attack one another. Stay safe all x.’
The government has come under pressure to urgently clarify who it counts as a ‘key worker’ after Britons woke up in a state of lockdown confusion.
On Monday night, in his historic address to the nation, Boris Johnson ordered the workforce to stay at home unless travelling to work was ‘absolutely necessary’.
Britain was placed under new draconian measures which included exercising outside once a day, social gatherings of more than two people banned, and non-essential travel prohibited, with police handed powers to slap offenders with fines
But the wriggle room left by the Prime Minister was seized upon many workers who continued to commute to their jobs this morning.
Construction workers were seen operating in close proximity, causing head-scratching over why they were continuing to work while most of the country was forced to hunker down at home.
Responding to claims that details of the lockdown were ‘murky’, Michael Gove, the minister for the cabinet office, said: ‘It is the case that construction should continue on sites.
‘People should obviously exercise sensitivity and common sense and follow social distancing measures. But construction sites carried out in the open air can continue’.
Yet images from the first day of lockdown showed construction staff huddling together on sites, brazenly flouting social distancing guidelines.
And Nicola Sturgeon and Sadiq Khan fanned further confusion when they advised construction workers to stay at home.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the Scottish First Minister of building sites: ‘My advice would be to close.’
The Mayor of London echoed these sentiments and said: ‘I’ve been concerned about the mixed messages and the lack of clarity.’
He added: ‘The only people that should be leaving home are those that are essential to look after us.
‘In my view the only construction workers that should be working are those that are needed for safety.
Words: London Mayor Sadiq Khan has since blamed commuters for flouting a ban on ‘all non-essential travel’ and said they must avoid rush hour ‘to save lives’