18-year-old Ellie’s 18th birthday marred by body shaming trolls; Sue Radford speaks out against online abuse targeting her children

The Radford family, known for their openness in sharing their lives with 22 children, faces a distressing ordeal as online trolls target their daughter Ellie’s 18th birthday celebration. Cruel comments about her appearance nearly led parents Sue and Noel Radford to cancel the milestone event.

Ellie, who celebrated her 18th birthday in May, wore a white dress and sparkly heels, a moment Sue proudly shared on social media. However, the post attracted abusive comments, with some comparing Ellie to Posh Spice and others making cruel remarks about her body.

The online trolls targeted Ellie’s body image, unaware that she had been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome, a hereditary condition affecting liver function, causing weight loss. Sue radford explained that trolls insisted she should “put weight on” and accused her of looking anorexic. The hurtful comments affected Ellie to the point where she didn’t want to go out and celebrate her birthday.

Noel and Sue emphasized that while they, as parents, could brush off negative comments, when it came to their children, they drew the line. Sue stated, “For me and Noel, you can brush it off and go ‘it doesn’t matter, it’s fine.’ But I think when it is your children that are getting that, it’s not ok.”

The Radford family, who have been married for over 30 years, shared their struggle with online abuse, highlighting the need for more responsible and respectful behavior on social media, especially when it involves comments about children.