Viewers of Soccer Assist have discovered themselves defending presenter Alex Scott, as trolls on social media made quite a lot of disparaging remarks about her.
On Sunday night time (11 June), Scott co-hosted the largest charity soccer match on the planet alongside Dermot O’Leary, which raised £14,619,005 for Unicef by full-time. However many viewers appeared extra involved about Scott’s outfit – a fitted purple PVC mid-length gown.
Critics known as the BBC pundit and former skilled footballer “consideration in search of” and made different disrespectful feedback about her look and outfit alternative. By the top of the occasion, Scott’s title was trending on Twitter with lots of of tweets mocking her look.
Nonetheless, many different followers watching the charity match have defended the presenter, calling out the feedback as “degrading” and “misogynistic”.
One individual wrote: “I believe Alex Scott seemed nice and don’t get all of the criticism over her gown. FFS it was a enjoyable occasion elevating cash for an excellent trigger, not a funeral.”
One other remarked that they usually discover hurtful feedback made in regards to the presenter on social media.
“Each time Alex Scott is on tv, there’s a disproportionate quantity of baseless hate. It’s no coincidence that she is a girl and an individual of color,” wrote one individual.
A Twitter consumer added: “Oh look Alex Scott is trending as a result of, let’s see, some males don’t like a educated black girl who was a celebrity in her sport speaking about soccer, oh and since she wore a gown. She’s rightly right here to remain, so jog on.”
Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott co-hosting Soccer Assist 2023
(PA)
“The abuse Alex Scott bought on right here final night time was past perception,” wrote one other, including: “I believe she seemed beautiful and extra importantly she is true to herself and is aware of her stuff…soccer and psychological well being.”
In an interview with Radio Instances final yr, Scott stated that misogynistic remarks wouldn’t cease her from presenting soccer.
Scott, who retired in 2018 as England’s second-most capped participant with 140 appearances, and was a part of the BBC’s panel of pundits for the Ladies’s European Championships final summer time, stated that she usually receives messages from trolls.
“Generally folks threaten my life and people need to be taken critically. It’s my accountability to vary perceptions by sitting in that chair and speaking about soccer,” she stated.
“The general degree of girls’s punditry is sweet and bettering; it’s been a welcome choice,” she stated. “But it surely’s troublesome as a result of on Match of the Day we usually have solely gamers who’ve performed within the Premier League.”
She added: “Given the recognition of girls’s soccer on this nation now, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than feminine presenters will probably be common pundits on males’s soccer too.”
In 2021, Home of Lords member Digby Jones criticised Scott’s pronunciation, writing that she “spoils an excellent presentation job” from her “very noticeable incapability to pronounce her ‘g’s on the finish of a phrase”.
“Rivals are NOT participating, Alex, within the fencin, rowin, boxin, kayakin, weightliftin & swimmin.”
On the time, Scott responded, writing on Twitter: “I’m from a working class household in East London, Poplar, Tower Hamlets & I’m PROUD. Happy with the younger woman who overcame obstacles, and pleased with my accent! It’s me, it’s my journey, my grit.”
Lord Digby defended his place suggesting his criticism was not about Scott’s “upbringing” however as a result of she was talking incorrectly.
“This has bought nothing to do along with her upbringing. This isn’t about accents,” he stated on the time.
You will discover a full match report on Soccer Assist right here.
