Colombian political cartoonist Vladimir Florez, aka “Vladdo,” closed his Twitter account due to insults and threats he was receiving via the social medium.
Vladdo said goodbye to the social network, where he had 79,000 followers, with a tweet that stated “With this message I end my Twitter life. Thanks … totally!”
In an interview with Caracol Radio, the cartoonist and journalist said that threats and intimidation had led him to take the decision.
“For some time I had the idea because I could no longer discuss [ideas] with decency. When it turns to threats, to intimidation, to insults and to words of serious crudeness, it no longer has sense,” said Vladdo.
The artist said that he will not reconsider his decision, stating, “To irony they respond with vulgarity and to critique with intimidation. One blocks them, but they multiply,” and added, “I hope that Twitter doesn’t end up being an antisocial network.”
The cartoonist, who had spent three years on Twitter at the time of his departure is well-known for his harsh criticisms of former Presidents Andres Pastrana and Alvaro Uribe.