There were no emojis. No drama. No attempt to trend.
Just five words posted in the quietest hours of the night — and a wave of emotion that followed.
At 3:24am on December 30, Strictly Come Dancing professional Lauren Oakley shared a message that stopped fans in their tracks. “Please think before you type,” she wrote — a raw, exhausted plea that exposed the unseen toll of months of silent online cruelty hidden behind sequins, smiles and applause.
The post, shared on X, wasn’t a cry for attention. Lauren made that clear herself. It was a warning — about how a single careless comment can linger, cut deep, and unravel someone’s entire day.
“Not posting for replies or attention,” she wrote. “We just don’t talk about it enough so that we ‘don’t give them what they want’ — but one comment online can really ruin your whole day. You have no idea where someone is emotionally and mentally. Please please think before you type.”
Replies were disabled. Still, the message quietly spread, resonating with hundreds who recognised the exhaustion behind her words.
A breaking point reached in the early hours
At 34, Lauren has built a strong following across social media, with nearly a quarter of a million fans. But popularity comes with pressure — and, increasingly, cruelty. Those close to the dancer say her post came after months of harsh remarks and personal criticism that never make it onto television screens.
While viewers see glittering routines and confident smiles, the emotional weight carried backstage — especially during elimination weeks — often goes unseen. This wasn’t the first time Lauren felt the need to step away.
Just one day before the first live show in September, she announced she would be deleting X during the series. “Live show tomorrow,” she wrote at the time. “That’s me deleting X for now. Have fun everyone. Enjoy the show. Don’t be mean. Everyone has feelings and everyone is trying their best. Think before you type.”
Fans flooded her posts with support, many admitting they understood exactly why she needed the break.
From stand-in to finalist — and everything in between
Lauren joined Strictly in 2022, and her journey has been anything but predictable. In her first series, she didn’t receive a celebrity partner at all. The following year, she danced with broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy, making it to week eight.
Then came a dramatic turning point. When Amy Dowden was forced to step back, Lauren stepped in at the last minute to partner JB Gill — and against all expectations, the pair surged all the way to the final.
This year, she was partnered with former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Despite an emotional run, their journey ended in week five after a dance-off performance to Prince’s Purple Rain.
“I was absolutely gutted,” Lauren later admitted. “But I am so proud of Jimmy.” Her voice cracked as she praised his commitment, adding that their journey proved “anyone can be a dancer if they put their mind to it.”
A message that hit home
Lauren’s late-night post wasn’t angry or accusatory. It was tired. Honest. Human.
In an era where public figures are often expected to absorb abuse as “part of the job,” her words landed quietly — and powerfully. One comment. One sentence. One careless moment. Enough to undo an entire day.
And at 3:24am, when the applause has faded and the lights are off, that truth finally spilled onto the screen.
Her message was simple.
But for many reading it, it said everything.
