Ice Spice, Kai Cenat and Cardi B on Social Media and Depression: “The internet got me afraid of winning”

Kai Cenat has a new approach when it comes to dealing with online hate: embrace it. The popular streamer had the epiphany after what he says was a struggle to sustain his mental health while battling self-doubt. He also opened up about critics who have mocked his ambition to transition into fashion design. 

In a video uploaded to his Kai’s Mind YouTube channel, he walked through a centuries-old villa in Italy and revealed an actual “hate wall,” complete with clippings of tweets mocking his fashion design aspirations. He said the wall now motivates him. 

“I’ve got a wall of all the hate that I received, to motivate me even more,” Kai said. 

Cenat is the latest celeb to be open about how much social media has impacted their mental health. Online trolls and critics often bombard celebrities with negativity, and everyone–whether or famous or not–has to withstand what can be a barrage of antagonism and criticism online. 

Bronx native Ice Spice has also recently shared a vulnerable moment after a bit of online criticism regarding her body and image, in reference to her weight loss a year or so ago. When the “Munch” rapper posted a workout video, an X user responded: “This weak a– video just shows it was definitely from Ozempic.” 

“Na it was depression im better now tho,” she replied.

In 2023, Cardi B appeared on The Jason Lee Show and shared how her choices and behavior was sometimes dictated by her need to appease and navigate a sea of commentary from trolls and bloggers. 

She also indicated that she’s reluctant to be vulnerable because that, too, can leave her open to attacks. 

“I don’t like talking about my feelings because when you show weakness, people be like, ‘oh, sympathy,” the “Up” rapper said. “At first, I thought they [were] doing it to me, but now I see that they do it to every female.” 

Cardi B has watched her life play out on public display. Her high-profile divorce from Offset, the birth of her children, the lawsuit a Los Angeles security guard filed against her, her apparent split from Stefon Diggs – it’s all been there. Her legal battle with gossip blogger Tasha K also took its toll on her, even though Cardi’s team was victorious in the case. Back in 2022, a federal jury found Tasha K (born Latasha Kebe) liable for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress regarding false claims about Cardi B, including accusations of prostitution and drug use.

“This is really my life,” she said about the drain on her psyche. “I felt like I was somebody dead inside a body. I kept telling everybody, ‘I just want to die.’ I can’t escape my mind.”

She also revealed that she didn’t submit “W.A.P.” for Grammy consideration because she feared a backlash if she and Megan Thee Stallion’s infamous hit actually won. “I need to stop letting the internet control my life,” she said. “I was afraid that if I win… the internet got me afraid of winning.”