Alex Scott feared for her life and turned to booze after racist and sexist abuse
For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter
We have more newsletters
TV presenter Alex Scott has told how she briefly turned to booze after suffering from sickening racist and sexist abuse.
The former England star fronted the coverage for the Women's Euros this summer, along with Gabby Logan and Ian Weight on the BBC, and has appeared on numerous other sports events as a pundit. However, a false rumour spread that Scott was being primed to take over from Sue Barker on A Question Of Sport.
It led to a barrage of abuse on social media with many messages turning ugly, including death threats and racist abuse. Speaking to The Times, she admitted she was terrified even to leave her own house.
READ MORE: Horrific England stat raises alarm bells for World Cup as scoring is now 'impossible'
She said: "I was scared to leave my house to even go to the shop. That’s the stage that we’d got to – that, oh my gosh, someone black might be replacing a national treasure could cause such hatred."
The Times went on to report that Scott even turned to alcohol in a bid to drown out the abuse that she was subjected to on a regular basis.
She added: "I can slip into dark places. And once I slip into dark places, I don’t stop.
"I loved being out at the Olympics, but afterwards I realised the mad pressure that I’d put on myself to take everything – the trolling, the racism, Lord Digby Jones."
Scott was referencing a tweet sent to her by Jones that criticised her east London accent during the Olympics. The former Arsenal ace admitted this was the last straw and hit back.
"To open Twitter and see that from him, I was just like, "I’m not going to be silent any more. I’ve had enough." So I just tweeted and went to bed," she added.
READ NEXT:
Fuming fans boo Gareth Southgate as England boss loses support before World Cup
England fans joke 'another Simpsons prediction comes true' with Reece James' pink hair
Opera singer spotted going 'full-kit w*****' for Italy vs England national anthem
- BBC
- Alex Scott
Source: Read Full Article