Bella Thorne has made her point very clear, and even the billionaires aboard the Titan deserve to be respectfully mourned without becoming the butt of jokes, in case it needed any saying.
In the wake of the recent expedition failure to the Titanic wreckage last Sunday, the disappearance of the submersible Titan has dominated everyone’s thoughts. While it is an undoubtedly sensitive situation that should discourage unnecessary comments, the internet, being relentless as always, has inundated Twitter with memes and jokes. Attempting to appease the situation, Thorne has taken it upon herself to address these trolls who seemingly have nothing better to do.
While freedom of expression is one of the core principles of Twitter, as per Elon Musk’s own request, it may be worth noting the importance of appropriate timing and context. Many have dismissed these morally complex jokes as a necessary evil, as they target billionaires who seemingly had too much time on their hands, seeking thrill and attempting an unprecedented feat.
Additionally, Thorne emphasized that there was a father and son on board the submersible—namely, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman. They embarked on the journey with hopes of discovering remnants of the shipwreck that occurred in 1909. The others on board include pilot Paul Henry Nargolet, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, and British billionaire Hamish Harding.
Ultimately, while jokes can serve as coping mechanisms for many during emotionally jarring situations, sometimes it is best to refrain from sharing them. Thorne raises a valid point, as there is arguably no worse way to meet one’s end than being trapped underwater with no prospect of survival, limited food, water, and worse, oxygen.