Musician Danny O’Donoughue has revealed that his wife has become the victim of anonymous hate online. The Script frontman, from Balinteer in Dublin, married Anais Niang, an events manager who is originally from Brittany in France, during an intimate ceremony in England last year. And although Anais is a private person with a limited presence on social media, Danny has now spoken about the abuse she gets from faceless trolls. He made the remarks during a discussion about social media algorithms with the Australian pop
culture commentator known as Smallzy . Danny, 45, claimed social media companies like X thrived off discourse, with users being deliberately drawn to arguments being had in comments sections. He said he used to get “triggered” by it a few years ago when he set up burner accounts to defend himself online. And speaking about the UK introducing an Australia style under-16s social media ban, he called the initiative “unbelievable”. Asked how it had landed in the UK, where Danny now lives with his wife,
he said: “That is happening over here and it just so happens that Keir Starmer resigned yesterday but I think but that’s probably the best thing he’s done to push that through. “Now, there are other safeguards that are happening to take away your anonymity online. I’m not an expert on it, but I have to say, there has to be some accountability somewhere along the way for there being completely anonymous hate. “My wife is a victim of just fans, you know, anonymous hate.”
Smallyz interjected to clarify: “Directed at her?” Giving an insight, Danny replied: “Yeah, and they set up different accounts and say things and contact her family and friends and just do stuff. “There’s only a certain amount of… if you approach any of these social media companies, they are like, ignore it, you know, you got to report it and stuff.” He later said his family never signed up for social media abuse and that even when sinister comments are thrown in his direction, something
he has built resistance and a thick skin to, his loved ones still “100% get triggered” by it. Danny said it was more tough for his family and he explained that his new album called The User’s Guide to Being Human is about navigating the modern technological world while trying to remain as human as possible. Anais meanwhile is 32 and she met Danny in London during the pandemic. Danny previously told the Irish Independent : “It’s funny because we spent longer together in lockdown
than we did in real life,’ after going public with his relationship.” He added to MailOnline: “We actually live in the same part of London, and up until now we’ve mainly just been hanging out at home. My mum loved her, and they offered her lots of tea.” In August 2024, Danny got down on one knee in Norway after the pair hiked up a mountain with a stunning backdrop view of a beautiful lake and waterfall. And after tying the knot, the pair told
MailOnline : “We’re over the moon to be married and now we take the first steps on the journey of the rest of our lives together!”
Danny O’Donoghue, The Script, Anais Niang, social media trolls, anonymous hate, fake accounts, X, under-16s ban, Smallzy, The User’s Guide to Being Human, Balinteer, Dublin, Norway proposal, UK social media safeguards