Death threats and "terrible messages" upsetting her family and friends have plagued one of the Married at First Sight brides this week.
However, the newlywed is taking a strong stance and thinks there needs to be more advocates to speak out about cyberbullying.
In just the second week since televisionreality show Married at First Sight has been on screen, Lacey Swanepoel, originally from Tauranga, has received plenty of online feedback from the show including threatening messages.
"It's a bit crazy really, how do people have the spare time to find my private page and send me awful messages? But also how dare people think that this is ever acceptable."
"I get a lot of comments where people tell me that I put myself on TV, therefore I deserve the abuse or negative comments, and I feel like sitting them down and saying have you ever tried something new or done something crazy?
"Have you ever made a decision and not cared about what someone else thinks? I feel like people forget that we are all human and we all approach life differently and it's ok to be different. I pride myself on being different."
"People often bully others because they themselves aren't happy with something but in today's world I think people cyberbully because it's easy. It's hard to be accountable and often it's a heat of the moment type and walk away . . . when people read someone's negative comment or bullying comment it can be a driver for others to get on the bandwagon. It's often hard for some to stand up to bullies online, possibly for the fear of getting the abuse aimed at them."
Lacey and Luke in Rotorua during their honeymoon. PHOTO/Tim Hollow
Her strong support network, and her experience of being bullied before has helped her deal with the trauma.
"I have definitely experienced bullying throughout my life both personally and through friends and family. I'm a very strong person, so for me, I deal with bullying by talking to my support network and removing myself from unnecessary situations. I am not running away from bullying but some battles are better left ignored. It isn't always worth your mental health or your own happiness to respond."
She said she welcomes people "having a voice and the opportunity to be heard "but this does not mean that people can choose to go online and voice that opinion to the detriment of someone else's wellbeing . . . cyberbullying is unacceptable."
She said she has been "in communication" with her husband Luke this week, who online revealed he'd had mental health issues in the past. Lacey said she was unaware of this.
"I don't think people with mental health issues tend to bring this up with someone they have initially just met. He is also a very introverted, private and quiet person."
Lacey had a message for her online bullies:
"To my bullies, I wish you the best and I forgive you. You are only human and we all make mistakes. Try to learn from yours and be a good role model to others."
