No good deed goes unpunished, especially on social media. Just ask Halle Berry.
The former “X-Men” star stripped down to pay tribute to legendary singer/activist Nina Simone on Instagram on Tuesday, and ended up being dragged by a hater who called her a “desperate tramp.”
The post consisted of a photo of a clothing-free Berry, partially obscured by the frosted glass of a door, along with a quote from Simone.
“I’ll tell you what freedom is to me. No fear. #NinaSimone,” Berry wrote.
A lovely sentiment, to be sure. But the internet being the internet and people being people, not everyone was impressed with Berry’s fleshy gesture.
In particular, an Instagram user bearing the handle “thasmartchick” fired back, “Desperate tramp.”
There were other critics, one of whom lamented, “So sad when women use their bodies to seek attention. Women are so much more that than and that’s where our freedom is. Free to be intelligent, interesting, talented, mothers, friends, wives and so much more than TnA. Pathetic really.”
And yet another simply wrote, “Sinner woman…”
To be sure, the detractors were in the tiny minority. Most of the comments ran along the line of “Still fine as ever.” And “Beautiful pic! Freedom is being willing and able to face your fears and overcome them.”
And, “My dear lord!!! Beautiful in every way!”
Even so, if you need proof of the old adage, “You can’t please everybody,” Halle Berry’s Instagram account is a good place to start.