Celebrities ‘clap back’ at trolls

Associated Press

ATLANTA

When Rick Ross posted a photo of himself on Instagram posing with Diddy, a woman joked on his page about the burly, bearded rapper wearing shades inside a nightclub.

Ross noticed — and didn’t take kindly to it. In retaliation, he replied with an insult about the size of the woman’s nose.

He’s not alone in responding to unflattering comments with vitriol. From Rick Ross to Rihanna to the Kardashians, celebrities are going out of their way to “clap back” at regular folk who have the audacity to come for them on social media.

“It’s for people to say ‘Oohh and aahh,”’ said the rapper, who’s had his fair share of clap back battles on social media, mostly against 50 Cent. “Sometimes it makes you laugh at something that someone said. Social media is an avenue to say what’s on your mind.”

Clapping back is a way for someone to instantly gain the upper hand against an adversary who disrespected them, their family members or close friends. Most use social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram to fire back at someone (it’s not clear when the phrase originated or resurfaced. In 2003, Rapper Ja Rule released the song “Clap Back,” a diss track directed toward 50 Cent and Eminem).

Chris Brown is a repeat clap back offender. Nicki Minaj cursed out an Instagram troll who criticized the rapper’s supportive post of the N.W.A. biopic film “Straight Outta Compton.” It’s become such a regular occurrence that gossip outlets like The Shade Room regularly highlight the best celebrity clap backs in separate social media posts.