Hana Kimura, professional wrestler for the Stardom wrestling promotion, has passed away at 22. This comes after a string of abusive messages online.
The news comes via Stardom (the wrestling promotion Kimura worked for). In a tweet they stated the following.
“Stardom fans,
We are very sorry to report that our Hana Kimura has passed away.
Please be respectful and allow some time for things to process, and keep your thoughts and prayers with her family and friends.
We appreciate your support during this difficult time.”
Newsweek and Aramajapan report that Kimura had endured harassment online via abusive tweets (as early as the 20th of May based on images from Aramajapan). There are also claims that in a now deleted series of tweets, Kimura had tweeted “graphic images of self-harm,” and the following messages.
“Nearly 100 frank opinions every day. I couldn’t deny that I was hurt. I’m dead. Thank you for giving me a mother. It was a life I wanted to be loved. Thank you to everyone who supported me. I love it. I’m weak, I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to be a human anymore.”
“It was a life I wanted to be loved.”
“Thank you everyone, I love you.”
“Bye.”
Kimura began her wrestling career in 2016 under Wrestle-1, taking after her mother Kyoko Kimura. Kimura also defeated her mother, in her retirement match in 2017, and later joined Stardom in 2019. She had also appeared on Japanese reality TV show Terrace House: Tokyo 2019–2020.
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Image: Distractify