Shobna quits Twitter after racist rants

Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date published: 26 June 2012


OLDHAM actress Shobna Gulati has quit Twitter after suffering a torrent of racist abuse.

The 45 year old, who has played Sunita Alahan in ITV soap “Coronation Street” since 2001, has 42,555 followers on the social networking site.

The former Hulme Grammar School pupil, who also starred in “dinnerladies”, “Where The Heart Is” and “Soapstar Superstar”, had been enjoying good-natured banter with fans on Twitter in relation to her Corrie character’s on screen affair.

But one-time Oldham Theatre Workshop member Shobna was shocked when some of her followers began to post mutilated pictures of her online along with racist comments.

Shobna, who speaks six languages, said: “Being racially abused on Twitter really shook me up. I just decided enough was enough.

“Violent, vitriolic hatred gives people their moment in the spotlight. It beggars belief.”

Shobna took a Twitter break last year when she was targeted by racist bullies and had only started using the site again in recent months.

In a farewell post to her followers, Shobna, from Shaw, said: “Need another Twitter break. Thanks for the banter, thanks for the follows and the support. I loved being back but it’s now time to sort other stuff.”


READ the full version of this story only in our print and eChron editions
Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle