Like the untimely death of a rock star, or the passing of a Hollywood A-lister at the height of their fame, Ed Miliband’s decision to quit as Labour leader has prompted a similar outpouring of sadness.
Members of the Milifandom movement – including those too young to vote – said they cried when they found out Mr Miliband would be stepping down after the Conservatives won enough seats at the election to form a majority government.
And they channelled their grief in the same way they demonstrated their enthusiastic support for the politician in the run-up to Thursday’s vote – by tweeting.
Toni Marie wrote on Twitter: “I actually loved Ed Miliband, Milifandom.”
Shai added: “Miliband, Milifandom forever. I’m actually crying”
And {M0HumiFTW wrote: “Staying in bed all day because I’m too upset about Ed Miliband resigning. Milifandom, Milibae4Ever.”
Pravanya Pillay, starting her tweet with an abbreviation for an expletive phrase, added: “Ffs. It’s raining and I don’t have an umbrella. I guess this is just Conservative Britain. Je Suis Ed, Milifandom, notmyprimeminister.”
Another, less nihilistically, added: “Ed Miliband, leadership may come and go but our fandom is forever. Thank you Ed forever and always. Milibae, Milifandom.”
Their despair was perhaps tempered by Mr Miliband’s decision to name-check Milifandom – the “most unlikely cult of the 21st century” – in his resignation speech yesterday lunchtime.
Milifandom founder Abby, who tweets as {M0twcuddleston, wrote: “I do hope Ed makes a comeback at some point in the future, because if not, Britain just lost the best chance it will ever have. Thank you Ed.”
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