Molly Russell: Friend of 14-year-old who died from self-harm speaks out over Online Safety Bill
Davine Lee still has the birthday present she bought for her friend Molly five years ago, an unwrapped box containing a hoodie featuring her favourite TV show, that remains sitting untouched at home.
She learned of her friend’s death, at the age of 14, after seeing her empty chair at school and wondering where she might be.
Hearing the news, nothing made sense.
Warning: Some readers may find the content in this story distressing.
Molly Russell, a seemingly happy teenager from Harrow, northwest London, was found dead in her bedroom in November 2017, just a day after rehearsing with Davine for a show she had been picked to play a lead role in.
It later emerged she had viewed masses of content related to suicide, depression and anxiety online.
In a landmark ruling at an inquest in September, a coroner ruled she died not from suicide, but from “an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content”.
Dealing with the death of a friend in this way, especially at such a young age, is a particularly complex form of grief to process.
“To have to lose a friend at that age, it’s scarring,” Davine quietly explains. “Losing Molly… it’s something we won’t ever be able to forget or entirely move on from…
“I’ve still got her birthday present from 2017 – it would have been her 15th birthday, and of course she never made it to that birthday. That present still sits in my room, I’m just really not sure what to do with it. I obviously can’t give it to her but it feels in some way like I can still hold on to her through that.”
With permission from the Russell family, this is Davine’s first media interview, speaking exclusively to Sky News. Now 20 and at university, she says she was moved to speak publicly for the first time to highlight the importance of bringing the Online Safety Bill back before parliament. Reliving that time, she hopes, might prompt anyone struggling to see how much they would be missed.
“It was shocking to see that it was that bad,” says Davine, referring to the graphic material that was shown at Molly’s inquest. “I want people to know that what happened to Molly isn’t an isolated event and the content that she was being pushed, it still exists.”
‘Poor mental health can hide almost in plain sight’
Davine, now 20, wants social media companies to be held responsible for harmful content
Molly and Davine had been friends since they started secondary school together and shared a love of singing and musicals. They starred together in school productions of Les Miserables and Beauty And The Beast.
“[Molly] had just been given like one of the lead roles for the show we were doing that year… she was still doing the things she loved… either depression or poor mental health can hide almost in plain sight in that sense,” says Davine.
Recalling the horrific day that she and her school friends were told what had happened, she remembers the teachers ushering them all into a room. Then came the news that Molly had died.
“My first thought was like, ‘no’. It was like an instant sense of doubt, like, ‘no, Molly wouldn’t’. It just didn’t even make sense.”
Davine says she was told the news with other students. They were all in tears. “And that’s a sound I can’t forget, the sound of that many children just in such emotion.
“To attend a funeral at that age for someone who is a friend… we were just trying to get through each day.”
The coroner’s ruling: How content ‘romanticised’ self-harm
Molly’s family would later learn that alone in her room, social media algorithms had been feeding her a weight of disturbing content.
The coroner at her inquest ruled the content she had viewed “romanticised” self-harm, “normalised” her depression, and that some content “discouraged” the teenager from seeking “help” – ultimately contributing to her death.
Davine wants to highlight that Molly was not an isolated case, and that young people being drawn into looking at dark content on social media is a huge and damaging issue.
On Instagram, many of the hashtags Molly searched for have now been blocked. However, Sky News’ data and forensics unit found that while these blocks have been made and some content removed, the autofill device or misspellings can still lead users to some content, which Molly viewed; this was shown to her inquest but is too distressing to publish here.
Read more:
The digital trail that sheds light on the final months of Molly Russell’s life
‘No one is immune from such tragedy’
Social media ‘almost impossible to keep track of’
A spokesperson for Meta, which owns Instagram, responded to Sky News to say the company is committed to protecting young people.
“We’ve already been working on many of the recommendations outlined in [the coroner’s] report, including new parental supervision tools that let parents see who their teens follow and limit their time on Instagram,” the spokesperson said.
“We also automatically set teens’ accounts to private when they join, nudge them towards different content if they’ve been scrolling on the same topic for some time and have controls designed to limit the types of content teens see.
“We don’t allow content that promotes suicide or self-harm, and we find 98% of the content we take action on before it’s reported to us. We’ll continue working hard, in collaboration with experts, teens and parents, so we can keep improving.”
‘I felt so unwell I couldn’t work’: Former social media moderator speaks anonymously
Sky News has spoken anonymously to a former social media moderator who described managing harmful content on social media platforms as “an impossible task”.
Working for one of the world’s leading social media companies for a year during the pandemic, her job was to carry out a secondary viewing of content that had been flagged as potentially problematic, including posts that could be “extremely violent, homophobic”, or even show paedophilia.
“But there was probably one video in particular that affected me the most,” she said. This was footage of someone taking their own life.
She said she would watch and tag at least 1,000 videos a day. “It more just upset you about the world – seeing so much, sorry to say it, s**t, really. Things that people would do to themselves or others, it gives you a lack of belief in the world, really.”
After a year, she says that mentally and physically she could not carry on. “I felt so unwell that I literally couldn’t work, and I had to call my GP to advise me not to do it anymore.
“The effect it had on me the most was the sleep. I couldn’t sleep because I was so stressed. I was dreaming about some of the videos I could have incorrectly tagged.
“I won’t go into personally exactly what happened, but it wasn’t far off from Molly [Russell]. I can recognise feelings in how I felt seeing all of this content coming at me.”
The enormity of the task of policing all the content was just too much, she says. “The system there was just chaos… no one really knew what was happening.”
“We’re just a lot of young [people], like a lot of [people who have] just finished their degree… sat there trying to figure out how to judge all this content with no legal background.”
The rise of potentially harmful online content
Research by mental health charity Young Minds shared exclusively with Sky News suggests disturbing content is a growing problem.
It found that more than a fifth (22%) of young people are automatically shown distressing content by social media platforms, based on their previous online activity, at least once a week.
Nearly all young people (89%) who have had mental health problems said social media helps drive harmful behaviours, and more than half (52%) of that group said they had sought out content which they knew might make them distressed or uncomfortable.
The government has been accused of dragging its feet when it comes to introducing legislation to regulate social media firms but now, after years of delay, the online safety bill is back before parliament next week – proposing fines for tech companies of up to 10 % of their global turnover if they fail to protect users from harmful content – and criminalising posts that encourage self-harm.
But critics such as Baroness Claire Fox want the bill to be scrapped.
“The danger is that we – on the back of a very emotional response to something like the tragedy of Molly Russell – bring in a piece of legislation that doesn’t just protect children but actually infantilises adults and treats them like children,” she told Sky News. “And if you’re a free speech campaigner, as I am, this bill is a major, serious censorship tool.”
To those campaigning for better protections against potentially dangerous social media algorithms, Molly’s case embodies the horrific consequences of doing nothing.
The long-term impact and the ‘crisis’ in children’s mental health
Pic: Russell family
Olly Parker, from Young Minds, says: “I’m kind of a researcher in this field, but I’m also a father as well and it absolutely terrifies me.
“I don’t think we’re really going to see what the long-term impacts of this are maybe until 10, 15 years down the line. But one thing we are seeing is a real crisis in children in young people’s mental health. So every month right now we see record numbers of young people being referred to their GPs and doctors for more mental health support.”
When the online safety bill returns to parliament, Molly Russell’s friends and family hope it will be the first step towards holding big tech responsible for the content on their platforms.
Read more: Why the online safety bill is proving so controversial
‘Why are you doing this?’ – heated exchange at inquest
Child psychiatrist ‘did not sleep well’ after viewing content
“It’s big news that they now want to criminalise harmful content and anyone responsible for that but at the same time it does feel like it’s been an awfully long journey,” says Davine. “But I think it’s good to appreciate that we’re here now.”
But while it is something to place hope in, it can never bring back Molly.
“She was so loved by all of us,” Davine says. “I think she genuinely believed we would be better off without her… I think if she saw how much pain we were going through, I don’t think she would have made that choice.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Alternatively, letters can be mailed to: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
The Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, is getting under way, and the conflict in Gaza seems to be feeding into what’s happening.
From shows cancelled to artists divided, it’s no joke.
Rachel Creeger has had a distressing start to her stand-up run.
Two weeks ago, out of the blue, she says the venue Whistle Binkies rang her and fellow Jewish comedian Philip Simon to cancel their slots.
Rachel Creeger says her Edinburgh shows have been cancelled by the venue
She told Sky News it’s come down to “what we bring to that venue by being ourselves”.
The pair were allegedly given three reasons for the cancellation.
One was linked to a “vigil for IDF soldiers” that she says the venue initially claimed had been held during her performance last year but, according to Creeger, later had to admit hadn’t taken place.
“That never happened,” she insists.
Rachel says she was told her previous performances there had resulted in the venue having to pay for graffiti to be removed from toilet doors every three days.
“Again, we didn’t see evidence of that at all,” she says.
“We’re not the ones writing it… but if it was bothering them and they worried it was bothering us, then maybe we’d have volunteered to help them – or to help clean it.”
She claims she was also told the venue was responding to staff concerns about their own safety should Creeger’s show go ahead.
“It’s a pub in Edinburgh, it’s a music venue, they themselves have bouncers most evenings… And perhaps they might say if there’s a concern about extra risk, we should do all we can to make our performers safe.”
‘More unites us than divides us’
Creeger says her show is in no way political.
“It’s based around the idea that a Jewish mother can answer any question, solve any problem… I will make it better for you, the audience gets to write a question and put it into a chicken soup pot… The reason I kind of love it is because by the end of it people leave feeling actually more unites us than divides us.
“We’re not the people making the trouble,” she adds.
“I’ve certainly never started a protest, I’ve never done graffiti, I’ve never caused harm anywhere; my show doesn’t do that, my show is lovely.”
As Britain’s only touring comedian who is also a practising Orthodox Jew, she says since the 7 October attack she and other Jewish comedians are experiencing a significant increase in antisemitism while performing.
“We’re not Israeli, we’re British Jews,” says Creeger.
“The situation there is horrendous and distressing and painful for people of any number of religions and races… To be kind of scapegoated with dog whistles around that is clearly very, very unpleasant.”
The Fringe Society has said its role is to provide support and advice to all participants at the festival “with a vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat”.
A spokesperson explained they don’t manage or programme venues and “we understand that the show cancellations have been a choice made by the venue”.
Whistle Binkies hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment.
Police Scotland told Sky News it hasn’t “received any reports of concern” about Creeger’s show.
There are, of course, huge sensitivities when it comes to discussing what’s going on in the world right now.
American stand-up Zainab Johnson is making her Fringe debut this year.
While her show Toxically Optimistic is all about putting a positive spin on life’s challenges, she doesn’t shy away from tackling the serious stuff if it comes up.
Zainab Johnson says her show doesn’t shy away from tackling serious issues
‘Shows becoming serious is a part of life’
“If I’m doing a show and somebody wants to yell out Free Palestine, well let’s talk about it,” she tells Sky News.
“I am the comedian where, if the show has to become serious, it becomes serious. That’s a part of life, you know?”
Johnson adds: “I’m from the United States and they talk about free speech all the time, but then you find out free speech ain’t really free because the moment you say something that is contrary to what the majority feels or wants to be heard, then you can be penalised…
“But isn’t that the beauty of this festival? So many people just telling their story, whatever their story is.”
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Comedian Andy Parsons has had a long-standing career in satire, appearing regularly on shows like BBC2’s Mock the Week.
While he has the likes of Elon Musk and Nigel Farage in his sights for his stand-up show, Please #@!$ Off to Mars, they’re not his only focus.
Andy Parsons says comedians ‘should be able to talk about anything’
He says stand-ups “should be able to talk about anything and find a way to get that to work, including Israel and Gaza”.
He explains jokingly: “I’ve got some stuff about Israel in the show and obviously it can work both ways. It can give you some publicity and obviously it can get you cancelled.”
Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh – a clown comic – is the only Palestinian doing a full run of a comedy show at this year’s Fringe.
“My show is clowning, it’s storytelling, it’s even got a bit of stand-up and it’s heavily inspired by the comedian Dave Allen, who is one of my comedy heroes,” says Wardeh.
“It felt really important that I come and just exist in this space, as a Palestinian, and speak my words and have my voice heard.
“I’ve used all of these skills to make a show that is about really what’s going on in this country and in the world at the moment.
Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh is the only Palestinian doing a full run at this year’s Fringe
“I think most people in this country are going to recognise that Britain is in a very dark place… and I’m hoping to reach those people and to give a voice to the dissatisfaction.”
‘Plans in place’ for disruption
He’s had to consider the possibility of protests and take steps to “make sure that the audience and myself are safe and secure”.
“We have plans in place to know how to deal with people who are disruptive,” he says. “And particularly anybody who wants to bring any kind of bigoted views into the room.”
As one of the very few Palestinians at the festival, Wardeh says it is “not only my duty” but “an honour to be here and to represent my people”.
He also feels it’s wrong that Rachel Creeger has had her venue cancelled.
“I sincerely support free speech and I think everyone should be able to get on the stage and say what they want, within reason obviously,” says Wardeh.
Rachel says she hopes to confirm a new venue for her show on social media in the coming days.
“We’ve thankfully had a number of venues approach us to say that they have space available, so I’m hopeful that I’ll get – if not a full – then at least part of the run for the show.”
Since arriving in Edinburgh she’s been overwhelmed by how many hugs of support she’s received.
“To have super high-profile comedians put their heads above the parapet to say ‘this is wrong’, it means so much…In a way the story is that someone’s done something very hurtful… But look at all the love, that’s amazing.”
Sami Abu Wardeh’s Palestine: Peace de Resistance is at the Pleasance Dome in Edinburgh until 24 August
Andy Parsons’ Please #@!$ Off to Mars is at Pleasance Courtyard’s Cabaret Bar until 10 August
Zainab Johnson: Toxically Optimistic is at Pleasance Courtyard until 24 August
Entertainment
Flintoff praises NHS staff who treated him after crash, as doctor says his injuries were ‘among most complex’ he’s ever seen
Andrew Flintoff has praised the “love and compassion” of “superhero” staff in a visit to the hospital that treated him after his crash.
The cricket legend was seriously injured during the incident on the Top Gear track in Surrey in December 2022.
He was airlifted to St George’s in Tooting, with a surgeon calling Flintoff’s injuries some of the most complex he’s seen.
“I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George’s,” Flintoff said, as he returned to the London hospital.
“I came here probably the lowest I’ve ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible.
“I’ll be eternally grateful – absolute superheroes.”
Maxillofacial surgeon Jahrad Haq said Flintoff’s case was very complex. Pic: PA
Jahrad Haq, a maxillofacial surgeon, said he knew immediately the case was something out of the ordinary.
“I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant,” said Mr Haq.
“A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious.
“Of all the trauma cases I’ve seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex.”
The ex-cricketer with nurses Linda Holden (left) and Sonia Steer. Pic: PA
Flintoff was also pictured on his visit meeting lead dental nurse Linda Holden and principal orthodontic nurse Sonia Steer.
Shamim Umarji, who also treated the 47-year-old, said it was “wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost”.
“He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot,” added the trauma and orthopaedic surgeon.
Read more from Sky News:
Dentist who poisoned wife’s protein shakes jailed for life
Record-breaking US baby born from oldest ever embryo
Flintoff previously described how he thought he had died in the accident – which saw him “pulled face-down on the runway” for about 50m under a three-wheel car.
The incident led to the BBC pulling the plug on Top Gear and it remains unclear if it will ever return.
Hollywood actor Brian Cox has told Sky News that Donald Trump is talking “bollocks” after suggesting there should be 50 or 75 years between Scottish independence referendums.
The US president said a country “can’t go through that too much” when questioned by reporters during his visit to Scotland this week.
The Emmy-winning star, who is an independence supporter, has hit back, branding him “that idiot in America”.
The 79-year-old told Sky News: “He’s talking bollocks. I’m sorry, but he does. It’s rubbish. Let’s get on with it and let’s get it [independence] done. We can do it.
“It’s been tough as there’s a great deal of undermining that has gone on.”
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Trump responds to Sky question on Israel
SNP fraud probe causing ‘harm’
Mr Cox said the police fraud investigation examining the SNP’s finances has done “enormous harm” to the party and wider independence movement.
Nicola Sturgeon was arrested as part of the long-running police probe but cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this year.
The former first minister’s estranged husband Peter Murrell, who was SNP chief executive for two decades, appeared in court in April to face a charge of alleged embezzlement. He has entered no plea.
Brian Cox is preparing to return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade in a play about the Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash.
Ahead of the Edinburgh festival performances, the veteran actor told Sky News: “I think it’s a masterpiece. It’s certainly one of the best pieces of work I’ve been involved in.
Brian Cox speaking to Sky’s Connor Gillies
‘My friend Spacey should be forgiven’
The Succession star was also asked about his “old friend” Kevin Spacey.
The former House of Cards actor, 65, was exiled from the showbiz world in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Spacey has admitted to “being too handsy” in the past and “touching someone sexually” when he didn’t know they “didn’t want him to”.
Spacey stood trial in the UK for multiple sexual offences against four men in July 2023 but was acquitted on all counts.
Kevin Spacey
Mr Cox told Sky News: “I am so against cancel culture. Kevin has made a lot of mistakes, but there is a sort of viciousness about it which is unwarranted.
“Everybody is stupid as everybody else. Everybody is capable of the same mistakes and the same sins as everybody else.”
Asked if he could see a return to showbiz for Spacey, Cox replied: “I would think so eventually, but it’s very tough for him.
“He was tricky, but he has learnt a big lesson. He should be allowed to go on because he is a very fine actor. I just think we should be forgiving.”
He concluded: “What is the joy you get out of kicking somebody in the balls when they are down? That is what I cannot stand.”
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