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Corrie actor Colson Smith: 'I've been trolled over my weight for 10 years' | Corrie actor Colson Smith: 'I've been trolled over my weight for 10 years' |
(10 days later) | |
"When I'm sad I run, when I'm happy I run, if I'm anxious I run." | "When I'm sad I run, when I'm happy I run, if I'm anxious I run." |
"I'm completely alone and isolated but I'm looking after myself when I'm running." | "I'm completely alone and isolated but I'm looking after myself when I'm running." |
That's Colson Smith talking about his love of exercise, something he discovered during the coronavirus pandemic. | That's Colson Smith talking about his love of exercise, something he discovered during the coronavirus pandemic. |
You might know him as Craig Tinker from Coronation Street. | You might know him as Craig Tinker from Coronation Street. |
Or, if you've seen some of the abuse he's faced online, then maybe you know him as "the fat kid from Corrie". | Or, if you've seen some of the abuse he's faced online, then maybe you know him as "the fat kid from Corrie". |
Colson first saw those kinds of comments a decade ago. He had gone online to gauge people's reactions when he first joined the soap. | Colson first saw those kinds of comments a decade ago. He had gone online to gauge people's reactions when he first joined the soap. |
A post shared by Colson Smith (@colsonjsmith) | |
"I wanted to learn about my character, about my acting, and see if they liked it," the now 22-year-old tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. | "I wanted to learn about my character, about my acting, and see if they liked it," the now 22-year-old tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. |
"But the comments I saw, and the comments which stuck with me, were about the way I look. | "But the comments I saw, and the comments which stuck with me, were about the way I look. |
"That was something that I've had every single day of my life for the past 10 years and I will continue to have throughout my career." | "That was something that I've had every single day of my life for the past 10 years and I will continue to have throughout my career." |
Poor body image harms half of men's mental health | Poor body image harms half of men's mental health |
Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips: 'I was trolled for my fat legs’ | Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips: 'I was trolled for my fat legs’ |
He says he has been supported during his time on Coronation Street by others in the cast and by ITV staff. | He says he has been supported during his time on Coronation Street by others in the cast and by ITV staff. |
But during lockdown, Colson started to exercise and to lose weight. | But during lockdown, Colson started to exercise and to lose weight. |
He's sharing his journey in a new documentary, Bored of Being The Fat Kid. | He's sharing his journey in a new documentary, Bored of Being The Fat Kid. |
Warning: Third party content may contain adverts | Warning: Third party content may contain adverts |
He never expected to even share the footage. | He never expected to even share the footage. |
"I wanted to make a doc but all I wanted to do is make it so that I can help me get out of my head that I'm not fat anymore," he says. | "I wanted to make a doc but all I wanted to do is make it so that I can help me get out of my head that I'm not fat anymore," he says. |
"I said it's probably just going to be me that watches it, maybe with my mum." | "I said it's probably just going to be me that watches it, maybe with my mum." |
'It wasn't for the tabloids to tell' | 'It wasn't for the tabloids to tell' |
Tabloid coverage of Colson's change in body shape made him feel like he was losing "control" of his own story. | Tabloid coverage of Colson's change in body shape made him feel like he was losing "control" of his own story. |
"The story was just being told by various red-top outlets, and it wasn't their story to tell. | "The story was just being told by various red-top outlets, and it wasn't their story to tell. |
"It's just the headlines and clickbait, but what's different about weight loss to everything else is it's visible - so people can see it." | "It's just the headlines and clickbait, but what's different about weight loss to everything else is it's visible - so people can see it." |
A post shared by Colson Smith (@colsonjsmith) | |
Colson's been sharing his fitness and running journey on Instagram, and now describes himself as a "complete running geek" - even though he admits he could barely run when he first started out. | Colson's been sharing his fitness and running journey on Instagram, and now describes himself as a "complete running geek" - even though he admits he could barely run when he first started out. |
But despite making his journey public, on social media and his documentary, Colson doesn't want anyone to think of him as a fitness influencer. | But despite making his journey public, on social media and his documentary, Colson doesn't want anyone to think of him as a fitness influencer. |
"I don't want to be that guy off telly who lost weight, who tells everybody how to do it," he says. | "I don't want to be that guy off telly who lost weight, who tells everybody how to do it," he says. |
"I see myself as a fat kid who has tried to change their life and has found that if you do it for yourself, when you put yourself first and find something you enjoy - like I have with running - it's a darn sight easier for yourself." | "I see myself as a fat kid who has tried to change their life and has found that if you do it for yourself, when you put yourself first and find something you enjoy - like I have with running - it's a darn sight easier for yourself." |
'Next level' of support | 'Next level' of support |
He says he'd be happy if his experience can help "just one other person" who watches his doc or has followed his journey. | He says he'd be happy if his experience can help "just one other person" who watches his doc or has followed his journey. |
And he hopes people who know someone trying to lose weight, and improve their body confidence like he has, is able to offer support to that person. | And he hopes people who know someone trying to lose weight, and improve their body confidence like he has, is able to offer support to that person. |
But he wants people to offer more than just compliments on weight loss. | But he wants people to offer more than just compliments on weight loss. |
"I found it quite difficult, because I felt like I was being rewarded for not looking the way I looked." | "I found it quite difficult, because I felt like I was being rewarded for not looking the way I looked." |
"No-one ever says it when you put weight on but when you're losing it, it's always said to you." | "No-one ever says it when you put weight on but when you're losing it, it's always said to you." |
A post shared by Colson Smith (@colsonjsmith) | |
He says that anyone who wants to do the same as him needs to be "incredibly selfish" about their goals, because it's important that they lose weight "for themselves." | He says that anyone who wants to do the same as him needs to be "incredibly selfish" about their goals, because it's important that they lose weight "for themselves." |
"Be supportive, do congratulate someone, do talk to them about it, but follow up the conversation," he adds. | "Be supportive, do congratulate someone, do talk to them about it, but follow up the conversation," he adds. |
"Rather than saying: 'You look loads better,' ask: 'How you feeling? How you finding it? Are you still going strong?' | "Rather than saying: 'You look loads better,' ask: 'How you feeling? How you finding it? Are you still going strong?' |
"Be that next level of support." | "Be that next level of support." |
Bored of Being the Fat Kid will be released on YouTube on 2 June 2021. | Bored of Being the Fat Kid will be released on YouTube on 2 June 2021. |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |