Alex Scott reveals she received death threats after reports claimed she would host Question of Sport
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‘I was scared for my life…I couldn’t leave the house’: Alex Scott reveals she received death threats after false reports she would replace Sue Barker as A Question of Sport host – and admits she started drinking to deal with abuse by trolls
- Alex Scott revealed she was targeted by trolls online after false reports emerged
- Reports suggested Scott would be the new host of A Question of Sport
- Scott was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse online in the aftermath
- The 37-year-old said the messages she received left her in a ‘dark place’
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Alex Scott has detailed the abuse she has endured online after reports suggested she would replace Sue Barker as A Question of Sport presenter.
The former professional footballer turned expert has faced a slew of racist insults online after he was wrongly tipped last year to host the classic BBC quiz show.
Speak with The timesScott revealed that the torrent of abuse directed against her left her in fear for her life.
“I was afraid to leave my house to even go to the store. That’s the stage we need to be – that, oh my gosh, someone who’s black might replace a national treasure could cause such hatred.” The 37-year-old explained.
The abuse reached such a degree that Scott turned to alcohol, but later discovered therapy as an effective way to cope with the more extreme reactions she received on social media.
Although A Question of Sport’s job would eventually go to Paddy McGuinness, Scott’s experiences as a target of online abuse would only continue.
Alex Scott has revealed she feared for her life as a result of troll abuse online after being tipped to be named host of A Question of Sport
Scott was particularly targeted during coverage of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, with crossbench peer Lord Digby Jones suggesting she would benefit from speech lessons because of her East End accent.
The former minister wrote on Twitter: ‘Enough! I can’t take it anymore! Alex Scott ruins a good presentation job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability to pronounce her ‘g’ at the end of a word. Competitors do NOT participate, Alex, in the fencin, rowin, boxin, kayakin, weightliftin & swimmin.’
Scott explained that while she is often able to record opponents’ comments online, she was in a particularly vulnerable state after last year’s Olympics.
The former Arsenal star was also attacked online while covering the Tokyo Olympics for her accent
“I can slip in dark places. And once I slip in dark places, I don’t stop. I loved being in the Olympics, but afterwards I realized the insane pressure I put on myself to deal with everything – the trolling, the racism, Lord Digby Jones.”
The former Arsenal star also described the euphoria of being at Wembley when the Lionesses ended up being hurt for 56 years by canceling the Women’s European Championship in dramatic scenes in extra time.
“To be at Wembley and watch them win was a complete moment for me. I remember crying in the sky to Gabby [Logan]because I knew it was much more than just lifting a trophy – it was about perceptions of women in society.’
Scott explained that while she was incredibly proud of the Lionesses’ achievements this summer, she was happy to watch from the portal
Although she made the decision to retire from football before her 34th birthday, when asked if she wished she’d been on the field at Wembley instead of the portal on that fateful day, Scott insisted she had no regrets. of she had her 140 England caps as part of Sarina Wiegman’s triumphant team.
“Not a part of me.” She explained.
“Because I know that this role I’m in now has been equally important in helping the game in a different way.”