80 Comments
Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

I’m so sorry this is happening. She is completely unhinged as I found out when I tried to actually engage on her thread coming for AA. Deleted and blocked. Easy for me to do - she’s not talking shit about me.

I support you.

I think I speak for most of us here when I say we got your back.

Sending love to you and Woody ❤️

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author

Thank you so much, Sarah.

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I’m so, so sorry you’re dealing with this. This is one of those situations where it’s hard to know what to do because you are being dragged into drama and being accused of things in public forums. I found her post on Instagram suggesting you’d created a fake account to troll her using your real name, which is asinine, and I commented under it pushing back on that narrative. I hope more people will do that. I’m always in favor of not giving attention or energy to people like this as a rule, but I’ve also seen that sometimes when you take the high road people perceive your silence as some kind of weird admission that you can’t defend yourself against the accusation. Mostly, I wish this wasn’t taking up any of your time or energy because you’ve been through enough and it would be great if she would just focus on her own work and goals and leave you to do the same. That would be the mark of someone who has done “the work” after all. Sending you hugs. I hope it helped to get it out there in the light 🤍 No one sane is confused about who you are.

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Is that what we should do, Ally? Push back? I will if that will help. I’m just not sure. Maybe we could report untrue content? Or does that help her, algorithm-wise? I’m so frustrated for Lauren.

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I mean, she (Daniella) responded to my comment stating she’d never mentioned Lauren by name which is hilarious because she has a screenshot of the “fake account” right there with what is essentially Lauren’s name, and later in the comments she’s talking about Cate Blanchett narrating the audiobook, so it’s ridiculous to pretend she’s talking about anyone else. She then deleted her response before I could point any of that out, but left my comment there. My thinking is it can only help Lauren to have some sane, calm people point out the absurdity so if nothing else, she sees that when she posts this stuff Lauren has people who are going to challenge her, and Daniella’s followers are going to see that too, and maybe question what they’re being told. And maybe eventually she’ll just stop posting this garbage. That’s my thinking. I don’t know that I’m right, but I feel if Lauren is going to fight back it’s nice to have some active support. But I would never say anyone “should” join me, that’s absolutely up to you! 🤍

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I’m the mom to a daughter who survived military sexual assault. We spent years - 7 of them at the least - navigating systems trying to get the VA to help. We spent more years finding the right therapist, meds and tools. She has PTSD that can take her out for days. She's a mom now. And she still has PTSD and we still go down rabbit holes… for days. We have been on bathroom floors together for many nights while I hold her, she cries and lathers at the mouth, as I rock her and say “I’m your mom. You’re safe” on repeat until the sun comes up and we have survived the night.

Two weeks ago she was in my living room and we browsed the internet for much too long and paid for background checks on herself because she NEEDED to know what people knew about her.

Why am I telling you this? Because there’s so much more to say but I’ve said enough that you get the picture. You get that your readers and supporters are people who honor your experience and your story helps us. In many ways. More than you can imagine.

Also. I’m here to help. Whatever that looks like.

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author

I know that feeling. I know you know that. I'm so sorry she's going through this. But I am really fucking glad she has you. Thank you

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“background checks on herself because she NEEDED to know what people knew about her”

That seems like good information to know actually. I want to do it.

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Fucking hell. Don’t know if it means anything to you, but I knew nothing about any of this, never heard of Daniella, and don’t give a shit about her book. It’s so goddamned bleak that this is happening. Fuck Twitter and the cesspool that it’s become. It’s sad, though, because you were goddamn good in that format. It just sucks. Solidarity.

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I do miss it sometimes, the times when it was fun as hell. But thank you. Really.

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Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

I refuse to give this D person’s dumpster life any air, but I am sending all my love to you and Woody because that is all that matters. ❤️💙

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Mar 31·edited Mar 31

I don't care about Daniella. I care about Woody. I hope Woody is feeling better.

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author

He turned into an absolute menace tonight because I was on the phone and he hates me talking on the phone. Becomes a complete ham. Tries his cute moves. Then threatens to destroy random objects like the TV or the vacuum cleaner. So yeah, he's doing better.

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Extremely important

Yay!

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Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

It's hard to find enough terrible words for any of her work. She's an absolutely awful writer, no matter what she's writing about.I went on her website. I don't use Twitter or Instagram but will find her on them and comment. She's actually a lot like Trump, who knows exactly how to trigger people. and no matter what the consequences, will not stop what he's doing, as this person evidently will not be stopped. Some serious pathology there. It means you have no real recourse, as you said. But it's very good for us, who love your work, and even if we don't know you, who care, to know about. So I'm very glad you wrote . And I'm so sorry that while you are writing, this painful scary distraction is happening.

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Thank you. Yeah. I know she won't stop. She deleted a lot today which gives me a little hope that maybe she'll at least stick to tiktok where she can get away with more. But I don't know. I just know this felt better than letting her keep swinging. Let someone punch you long enough, they'll get the idea they're allowed.

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I'm sorry. This is awful.

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author

Felt better after today though.

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Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

Believing in yourself is the best revenge. Fuck that bitch.

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Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

I know you're not seeking unsolicited advice, I'll give it anyway. You're not responsible for fixing odious people. Ever. No matter how irksome, your time, thoughts, and emotions have a full basket of far more fulfilling outlets. Apparently this other woman doesn't. Let her drown in her own bile. She's not your concern.

I'm glad you've been able to vent on your Substack, I hope that's helped to lighten your load.

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I can't imagine how you manage to survive the chaos that invades your life. It is evident that you are a very strong person and I pray that your strength will be renewed as necessary.

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author

Thank you

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Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

Sumofabitch. As an only child often wanting to help, and a bestest friend to you through zero contact but shared love of dogs and you say things that make good sense to me… i want to cult her ass so much. 🐾🐾

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It's appreciated.

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I appreciate your sharing this, because I don’t go on threads a ton and this prompted me to check my account, unfollow her and follow you.

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Thank you for the solidarity.

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I didn't know about any of this. Now that I do, I feel a sense of loyalty and friendship to you because what you're experiencing is unfair and cruel and, unfortunately, that's something, to some degree (generally not nearly as monstrous as this), we all can relate to.

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Thank you

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Had to go watch a couple IG videos, on which she appears to have very little engagement, so.... In one she says "I just understand so much...and these people don't", in essence saying she is the only cult survivor that has figured anything out. Bullshit. Personally, I think she comes across as disingenuous - kinda reminds me of the Theranos woman and we all know how that turned out - but as they say "there's a sucker born every minute".

Lauren, the real ones know that you are the exact opposite of disingenuous, and not at all what she is making you out to be. Know that some of us are typing that out in the comments and plenty of others are silently thinking the same. I hope that sharing with us gives you some relief.

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author

It does help. You do help. Really. Thank you.

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Mar 31Liked by Lauren Hough

Sorry you are going through this. And at an especially stressful time now when you don’t need another teaspoon of bullshit.

If there’s any consolation, there are people like me who don’t go on twitter or facebook or instagram, etc. I am on Substack to find great authors and try in my small way to support them more directly when I can. Sorry someone is affecting you this terribly. Hope you can surround yourself with some bad-ass loving folks.

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Thank you, Shari.

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