Cassie wrote a candid note Wednesday on Instagram, calling out critics who send her "nasty DMs & comments" or start rumors about her life. The Southern California native had been silent on social media for a month but revived her presence July 1 to send a powerful message.

She posted a photo of herself sitting on the beach at sunset and began her caption, "The last 2 years I’ve been thrust into a spotlight after living a fairly normal life. Since then, I’ve been trying to learn how to navigate my life changes while also trying to cling to who I am."

Cassie admitted that having a "platform" often felt "paralyzing" rather than empowering because she said she "can overthink everything."

"It takes really thick skin to navigate constant drama, fake articles, nasty DMs & comments or rumors started by people who feel entitled to your personal life," she went on. "It takes incredible mental strength to shrug off strangers who regularly criticize your character based on conclusions they drew while watching an edited tv show (I could say so much here)."

Cassie explained that she struggles with wanting to "just say what I want & forget my sensitive side that strives to do the 'right thing', be calm & rational, be kind, think of others first etc."

She continued, "I feel like saying: ok all you mother ffers hating on me for my breakup-please stop. It’s been an awful few months for ME trying to go thru it. I’m STILL going thru it. It’s hard enough w/out your know-it-all comments. You literally know nothing so go away."

Cassie said she felt "selfish" for "thinking about myself when there are truly critical issues in the world right now: BLM, Covid, toxic politics, matters of life and death; social injustice."

In her time off from social media, Cassie focused on herself, specifically living "in the moment."

She concluded, "Life is short. We all have struggles to figure out. All we can do is the best we know in the moment so when we reflect, we don’t feel regret. Always be learning, always be growing."

Cassie and Colton revealed their breakup May 29 on Instagram. Colton wrote in his note, "It’s been a crazy few months to say the least, Cass and I have been doing a lot of self-reflecting. Sometimes people are just meant to be friends - and that’s okay. We both have grown immensely and been through so much together - so this isn’t the end of our story, it’s the start of a whole new chapter for us."

In her announcement, Cassie called their split "one of the hardest things" she had to share.