Chloe Dykstra was happy when ex-boyfriend Chris Hardwick got his jobs back after she accused him of sexual abuse.
The cosplayer wrote an essay for Medium in June that didn’t name Hardwick, 46, as her abuser, but hinted strongly at his identity.
She revealed that the online harassment she faced when Hardwick was subsequently wiped from his Nerdist website and pulled from the AMC hit “Talking Dead” was so bad that she considered suicide.
“When I found out he had gotten his jobs back, I was actually relieved because I knew [the online harassment] wasn’t going to stop until he was reinstated,” Dykstra, 30, told Time in her first interview since she levied the allegations against the comedian.
“After months of reading horrible things about myself, I got to such a low point that I considered ending it,” she said. “I didn’t really have guidance because you can’t really Google, ‘How to handle being an accuser.’ ”
At first, Dykstra said the responses she received were largely positive.
“Then the tide kind of shifted. I was attacked relentlessly,” she said. “There was an organized group of people online whose sole purpose was to try to disprove me. I was terrified people were going to figure out where I lived.”
In her essay, Dykstra alleged that during their relationship from 2011 to 2014, Hardwick sexually assaulted her, emotionally abused her and prohibited her from having male friends.
Hardwick vehemently denied the allegations but admitted their relationship was toxic and accused Dykstra of cheating on him.
Hardwick also claimed that Dykstra begged to get back together with him after their split.
AMC launched an investigation into the claims. Hardwick was cleared and reinstated to host “Talking Dead” after a brief stint by Yvette Nicole Brown.
Dykstra didn’t participate in the investigation, explaining, “I have been adamant since I came forward with my essay that I never set out to ruin the career of the person I spoke about. I could have provided more details, but chose not to … I wish to move on with my life. For that reason, I chose not to participate in the investigation against the person I spoke of. I do not believe in an eye for an eye, and therefore I have only shared my evidence with those who I felt should see it.”
Several stars spoke out in Hardwick’s defense, including actress Jaimie Alexander and Hardwick’s wife, Lydia Hearst, as well as three of his exes.
Still, some “Talking Dead” show staffers quit after Hardwick’s return was announced.