Coco Gauff’s social media return has come at a cost. Days after an unpleasant discourse over her Miu Miu photoshoot, the tennis player is regretting her move, wishing she would’ve stayed away from the “toxic” online culture, which she distanced herself from to protect her mental health.
Coco Gauff Faces Unsettling Reality After Ending Social Media Break
At the 2026 Miami Open, Gauff revealed in passing that she had deleted X (formerly called Twitter) to escape online toxicity. The 22-year-old noted that she had been following “Threads” for social media updates.
“I’m on a Twitter break. Yeah, Twitter’s a bit toxic. So I actually haven’t been on in like a month or two months,” she said at the Miami Open.
On April 6, Gauff broke her silence on the site with a cryptic message. “deleted twitter for a month, came back today, and got instantly reminded why I should not be on here lol,” she wrote.
deleted twitter for a month, came back today, and got instantly reminded why I should not be on here lol :/
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) April 6, 2026
The American’s return has coincided with a concerning viral discourse about her latest Miu Miu photoshoot, which featured her wearing a technical jersey polo shirt ($1,620), a technical jersey skirt ($1,590), brushed leather penny loafers ($1,220), and a show-stealing Vivant Leather bag ($4,200). What caught the online community’s attention, though, was her hairstyle.
Gauff wore a chic bun, flaunting her natural hair – a feature that stirred a debate on X. Some fans were not sold on the simple, classic theme of the photoshoot, while several other fans defended the two-time Grand Slam champion’s sensational look. The account that shared her pictures was forced to post a message condemning the unexpected backlash.
“This Miu Miu campaign with Coco Gauff shows off her natural hair and effortless beauty. Yet some folks are out here calling a pulled-back style ‘civil rights era’ as if embracing your natural self is outdated. The real flex is loving yourself and how you appear and Miu Miu tapped into that unapologetically with these photos. Coco is glowing and that’s what really matters to us,” Athlete Vanity wrote.
Gauff faced a similar discourse after posing for Vogue in 2024. Fans were seemingly harsh in their opinion about the photoshoot, forcing the player to share an emotional message about the negativity.
“I felt beautiful at first, and after all the conversation I cried and felt like it wasn’t beautiful/I know I’m not a model or the prettiest, but just keep in mind the word usage when criticizing,” she said at the time.
“I know in the end you’re trying to advocate for better, but I think there’s a way to do that without commenting on the beauty of the picture. Comment on lighting, angle, unflattering angle, etc.,” Gauff said in 2024. “But to flat-out say it wasn’t beautiful is tough. It’s not my favorite picture of myself, but I still felt it was beautiful.”
For Coco Gauff, online scrutiny is nothing new. Thrust into the spotlight at just 14, she has spent the past eight years meeting criticism with poise and conviction, unafraid to respond both on and off the court. Her experience with online criticism, however, raises serious questions about the culture surrounding young athletes in the digital age.
