Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'In my car crying. Hope you're happy' - BBC pundit Tweets after trolls send online abuse

Sonja McLaughlan

BBC journalist Sonja McLaughlan says she has been left in tears after trolls hounded her on social media in the aftermath of today’s Wales England game in the Principality Stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

McLaughlan rightly pushed England captain Owen Farrell hard after the match on the controversial decisions in the game, England’s ill-discipline and alertness to danger and the performance of referee Pascal Gauzere.

Farrell clearly became a little waspish towards the end of the interview, at one stage cutting off McLaughlan mid-question.

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload Episode 18 – Nigel Owens, Zeebo and Ryan on Red Cards, Career Highlights, Regrets and Viral hit‪s‬

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload Episode 18 – Nigel Owens, Zeebo and Ryan on Red Cards, Career Highlights, Regrets and Viral hit‪s‬

It led many arm-chair critics to tear into her on Twitter, with hundreds of unkind messages of abuse levelled at the veteran presenter. Such was the torrent of abuse that it left the presenter weeping in her car after the game.

“Toxic, embarrassing, disgraceful, appalling. Just some of the feedback I’ve had.

“Thanks for using @ sign so it’s all hit home.

“Now imagine getting inundated with abuse for doing your job. In my car crying. Hope you’re happy.”

https://twitter.com/Sonjamclaughlan/status/1365757473462829066

Commentator Nick Mullins defended his friend and colleague: “To everyone who’s made sure my best mate Sonja’s driving home from Cardiff with tears in her eyes tonight: Look back at your Tweet and ask if you’d say that to your mum, wife, girlfriend or daughter. She’s world-class and you need to have a look at yourselves.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Brilliant interviewing from Sonja Mclaughlan to Owen Farrell. Asked tough fair questions and kept going when he wouldn’t answer! Top work Sonja!” said Andy Goode.

Fellow presenter Sarra Elgan Easterby described McLaughlan as a ‘consummate professional’.

“Social media can be exhausting! Why do we have to be so negative about others? Everyone is free to their opinion but trashing & tagging that person in is wrong. Sonja is a consummate professional,” posted Elgan.

Irish rugby pundit Joe Molly wrote: “Sonja, sorry to hear, you asked exactly the right questions, it would have been bizarre NOT to take your line of questioning. Was spot on. Dunno what people expected? Start that car and enjoy your evening after a job well done.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Former Ireland international turned pundit Bernard Jackman posted an appropriate meme, saying: “A tiger doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.”

Former player and Head of Player Affairs at the RPA, Christian Day, posted: “Don’t apologise for doing your job Sonja. Unfortunately social media can be an awful place at times. Leave the trolls under the bridge where they belong and speak with the people who really matter.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand
Search