Devendra Kumar
Eni Aluko, a former England striker, has revealed that she is taking legal action against Joey Barton after his social media posts left her fearing for her safety and scared to leave her home. Barton, a former professional footballer, compared Aluko and fellow ITV pundit Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West, dictators Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, and implied that Aluko was a “dictator” and “murderer”. Aluko, who has spoken out against online abuse, warned that the issue could lead to a female broadcaster taking her own life, citing the example of Caroline Flack, who died by suicide in 2020 after receiving online abuse.
In a 15-minute video posted on Instagram, Aluko revealed that the abuse had left her feeling genuinely scared and under threat. She explained that online abuse has a direct impact on her safety and feelings of safety in real life, and that she had felt like something was going to happen to her. Aluko emphasized that online abuse is not just a personal issue, but a culture that is affecting many women in the game and in sports broadcasting. She accused Barton of being sexist, racist, and misogynistic, and of having a “violent history”.
Aluko also criticized Barton for targeting her and Ward with “vindictive remarks” following their coverage of a football match. She warned that if people are allowed to get away with making racist, sexist, and misogynistic comments online, it can create a culture where people don’t want to go to work or leave their homes. She highlighted the negative impact this can have on mental health, and expressed her concern that if nothing is done to address the issue, it could lead to a female broadcaster taking her own life.
Aluko emphasized that while she understands the concept of freedom of speech, she believes that hate speech and online abuse are not protected by it. She pointed out that there are laws that govern such behavior, and that there are consequences for breaking them. She announced that she has taken legal advice and has decided on a course of action to take against Barton.
Throughout the video, Aluko’s concerns were marked by a sense of urgency and distress. She spoke from her heart, refusing to mince words and emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Her words were a powerful call to action, urging everyone to take online abuse seriously and to work together to create a safer and more respectful environment for women in sports broadcasting.