Daisy Ridley quit Instagram due to immense 'pressure'

Daisy Ridley deleted her Instagram profile because she felt too much “pressure” to use it.

The Star Wars: The Force Awakens actress decided to stop using the picture app at the beginning of August (16) after receiving backlash over a post regarding gun violence. She momentarily reinstated it to tell followers she simply wanted to use her phone less and be more present, but she’s now revealed the true extent of just how much it took over her daily life.

“I felt a pressure being on it,” she explained while at the Student Academy Awards in Los Angeles. “I was like ‘I need to post. Oh my god, it’s been this many days’. It’s actually been kind of nice not to be on it.

“I’m 24. I have a lot of growing up to do. I have to deal with loads of stuff myself personally. For that to be projected with millions of people watching, that is like a bit of an extra pressure.”

The star had over two million followers on Instagram before throwing the towel in, and it was the response to a photo she shared of herself at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards that seemingly led her to making the decision. Sat amongst victims of mass shootings in America, namely Orlando, Newtown and San Bernardino, Daisy shared her sadness at the suffering.

"As I sat in the audience yesterday tears were streaming down my face at the tribute to those that have been lost to gun violence,” she wrote, signing the message off with a hashtag reading "stoptheviolence".

Many users were quick to criticize her comments, with many pointing out her that role as Rey in Star Wars gave her no right to discuss the sensitive subject.

“Sorry, didn’t I see you using a blaster in Star Wars Episode VII? Get outta here, you’re no better than Matt Damon. I might have to unfollow your page,” a follower known as Vince Oliverio blasted, while another called Dave Carro wrote, “Says the woman who kills people with guns in movies. Such hypocrisy in Hollywood. Just shut up, Ridley and make another Star Wars movie.”