Ep 1. #CancelColbert

The Internet Ruined My Life season 1 episode 1 titled #CancelColbert dives into the dark side of the internet and how it can ruin people's lives. The episode focuses on a real-life incident that took place in 2014 when late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert made a controversial joke on air that sparked outrage on Twitter.

The tweet that caused all the chaos was a tweet promoting a segment on The Colbert Report, where he made a joke that some people felt was racist. The tweet included a quote from the show that was taken out of context, and many people on Twitter were quick to voice their anger and call for the show to be canceled.

Soon after the tweet went viral, the hashtag #CancelColbert began trending on Twitter, and even though Colbert wasn't responsible for the tweet, he became the target of a massive online backlash.

In the episode, we meet Suey Park, the woman who started the #CancelColbert hashtag, and who became the center of a firestorm of hate online. Suey explains how the tweet took on a life of its own and how she became the brunt of a vicious online campaign against her.

Through interviews with Suey and others, we see how the tweet and the backlash it caused fundamentally changed her life. She received a barrage of online abuse, including death threats and rape threats, and the incident left her feeling traumatized and isolated.

We also hear from other people who have been victims of online harassment, including a man who was falsely accused of being a child molester through a false online campaign, and a woman who was stalked and harassed online by a former colleague.

The episode tries to explore the reasons behind why people engage in this kind of behavior online, and we hear from experts who discuss the psychological and social factors that can contribute to online harassment.

Finally, the show ends with a discussion of how we can protect ourselves and others from online harassment, including the importance of reporting abusive behavior and the need for stronger laws to protect victims.

Overall, The Internet Ruined My Life season 1 episode 1 is a disheartening but essential exploration of the ways the internet can be used to harm people and destroy lives. The episode offers a sobering reminder of the dangers of online behavior and the importance of taking steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones.