Lucy Ward, a prominent TV football commentator, has described feeling "intimidated" and "physically scared" after receiving threatening social media messages from convicted former footballer Joey Barton.
Barton's posts on X (formerly Twitter) targeted Ward and fellow pundit Eni Aluko, likening them to the notorious Fred and Rose West, who were responsible for the torture, sexual abuse, and murder of children. The comparisons drew parallels with the horrors committed by the pair, leaving both women feeling "vulnerable" and anxious.
Ward described the experience as a form of harassment, saying she had been subjected to continuous bullying. She expressed concern about her safety, particularly when attending games, as she never knew how people would react or who might take action against her.
The 43-year-old's messages on X garnered millions of views and left Ward feeling "scared" and stressed. As someone in the public eye, she had grown accustomed to criticism but felt that Barton's comments crossed a line into threatening behavior.
Barton denies 12 counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety. However, his posts have sparked widespread condemnation, with many labeling them as hate speech.
The trial continues, with Ward's testimony shedding light on the impact of online abuse on women in the public eye. Her words serve as a stark reminder that even those who have faced significant challenges and adversity can be subjected to harassment and intimidation, leaving them feeling powerless and vulnerable.
Barton's posts on X (formerly Twitter) targeted Ward and fellow pundit Eni Aluko, likening them to the notorious Fred and Rose West, who were responsible for the torture, sexual abuse, and murder of children. The comparisons drew parallels with the horrors committed by the pair, leaving both women feeling "vulnerable" and anxious.
Ward described the experience as a form of harassment, saying she had been subjected to continuous bullying. She expressed concern about her safety, particularly when attending games, as she never knew how people would react or who might take action against her.
The 43-year-old's messages on X garnered millions of views and left Ward feeling "scared" and stressed. As someone in the public eye, she had grown accustomed to criticism but felt that Barton's comments crossed a line into threatening behavior.
Barton denies 12 counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety. However, his posts have sparked widespread condemnation, with many labeling them as hate speech.
The trial continues, with Ward's testimony shedding light on the impact of online abuse on women in the public eye. Her words serve as a stark reminder that even those who have faced significant challenges and adversity can be subjected to harassment and intimidation, leaving them feeling powerless and vulnerable.
It's heartbreaking to hear Lucy Ward describing her experience with online bullying and threats from Joey Barton. The line he crossed was indeed disturbing, and it's not okay for anyone to threaten or intimidate someone just because they're in the public eye. The fact that his posts garnered millions of views is concerning, and it highlights the need for greater accountability on social media platforms when it comes to hate speech. 
! I mean, I get it, people are passionate about football, but Joey Barton's behaviour is just disgusting 
. Threatening messages that make you feel like you're in a horror movie? No thanks, mate. Lucy Ward has been through some stuff already, and she doesn't need this kind of abuse 
. I'm all for free speech, but when it's used to target people based on their gender or profession, that's just not okay 
. The fact that his posts got millions of views and sparked so much outrage is a bit surreal, though 
. Ward's been very brave speaking out about this stuff, and I hope she gets the support she needs 
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Joey Barton's behavior is totally unacceptable 
we need to call him out on this & remind everyone that online abuse can have real life consequences 
. Newsflash, Joey: your past crimes don't make you cool or powerful, they just make you a creep.
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and lucy ward is right, it's not just the harassment itself but how it makes you feel - like you're walking around with a target on your back all the time 
. i'm glad her testimony is highlighting this issue because we need to start talking about how online abuse affects women in particular 
And the fact that people are still defending him is just mind-boggling... can't we all just call out hate speech when we see it? 
. Lucy Ward's experience is so disturbing, and it's wild how Joey Barton thought he could get away with making such sick comparisons 
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Barton needs to take responsibility for his actions and apologize sincerely 
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, I'm so done with these social media platforms. I mean, what's the point of having 12 million followers if you're just gonna use it to spread hate and anxiety? Barton's behavior is totally unacceptable 
. The fact that Barton's posts got millions of views and people were eating them up is just wild 
. The fact that his posts got millions of views says more about how twisted people can be online than anything else