Everyone says things when they're young that they regret as they get older, but when you're a popular public figure sometimes that can come back and bite you. Zoe Sugg, known online as Zoella, has been lambasted for comments she made on social media in her late teens and early twenties.

Zoella at the BBC Radio 1 Teen AwardsZoella at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards

The 27-year-old YouTube personality comes across as a sweet and innocent, tee-total, make-up lover who has struggled with serious anxiety issues since she was a teen. But there are some people that are determined to taint that wholesome image by digging up extremely old Tweets that she posted aged 19 and 20 that included homophobic and fat-shaming slurs.

'I've seen a few of my old tweets from 7/8 years ago floating around (which I have now deleted) using words like 'chav' 'skank' and other words I wouldn't use now as part of my language', the pint-sized vlogger wrote on Twitter in response to the backlash.

'A lot of them were taken out of context referring to TV shows but I would never say those things now and I'm sorry if I have offended anyone, that was not my intention', she continued. 'Obviously that is not who I am today and I'd like to think I'm a little older and wiser! I'm not perfect and I've never claimed to be, I'm only human!'

Zoe, who has her own beauty line and novel series, was reported to have made comments like: 'I find it funny when gay men spit... it's like they're trying to be a bit macho but never works...' and 'People didn't pay money to vote for Gillian to cop out like a fat kid at a swimming lesson 'on their period'.'

More: When Zoe Sugg landed 8 million subscribers

It's worth mentioning that these comments were made towards the start of her blogging career, before she had 12 million subscribers to be a role model for.