Milana Vayntrub has previously spoken out about the online harassment she faced over her portrayal of “Lily Adams,” a store manager in AT&T commercials.
But today, in a New York Times article, she revealed that she received encouragement and support from an unlikely colleague: Stephanie Courtney, who plays the character “Flo” in ads for Progressive Insurance.
Courtney contacted Vayntrub by phone as the online abuse escalated. Courtney was empathetic and Vayntrub recalled that Courtney was a good listener. Talking to her colleague made Vayntrub feel like “there were people on my team,” she said in the Times story.
In August 2020, Vayntrub posted a live stream on Instagram calling for an end to online harassment against her.
Vayntrub emotionally discussed how old photos of her have been manipulated into memes that elicit lewd and mean reactions.
“Maybe it just has to do with being a person on the internet, or maybe it specifically has to do with being a woman on the internet,” Vayntrub said on her live stream. “But all these comments… they hurt my feelings. I am in pain and it brings up many feelings of assault. I’m just walking my dog and I get messages from people who distort my photos to get likes on their accounts.
Vayntrub, who was a spokesperson for AT&T from 2013 to 2016, returned in 2020 with a new series of ads featuring working from home and video chat using iPhones and 5G.
In 2020, AT&T released a statement in support of Vayntrub.
“We will not tolerate the inappropriate comments and harassment of Milana Vayntrub, the talented actress who plays Lily in our ads. We have disabled or removed these comments on our social content featuring Lily and will continue to fight to support her and our values that value and respect all women.”
Source: Deadline
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
