Arsenal legend and BBC presenter Alex Scott has opened up about the vile racist and sexist abuse that once left her afraid to leave her own home.
The former Arsenal star shares how she’s turned those hateful experiences into motivation and how her relationship with pop singer Jess Glynne has boosted her confidence.
The toll of online hate
In an interview with Women’s Health magazine, Scott recalls the particularly intense period of online abuse she faced in 2021. After being erroneously linked to the hosting job on BBC’s A Question of Sport, she became the target of horrific racist and misogynistic vitriol. “I was scared to leave my house to even go to the shops,” Scott admits, revealing the extent of the fear it instilled in her. “That’s the stage we’d got to – that the idea someone black might be replacing a national treasure could cause such hatred.”
Turning pain into power
While initially resorting to alcohol to cope with the abuse, Alex now uses those experiences as fuel for her success: “I’m gonna keep thriving, I’m gonna keep killing you with my kindness and doing my job to a level that you cannot stand.” She sees the abuse as “a bit of ammunition to keep going and celebrate because you’re rubbing people up the wrong way.”
Embracing love with Jess Glynne
Alex’s newfound confidence shines through in her relationship with singer Jess Glynne. The couple went public last year and are often seen supporting each other at events. Alex feels comfortable embracing her softer side in this relationship: “I’m in this bubble at the moment… I am more open to accepting and being more vulnerable. I’m enjoying being like, ‘Okay, I’m just gonna roll with this’.”
Glynne echoes this sentiment about their supportive and private relationship. Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, she shared: “The work that I’ve done on myself has actually settled me inside and it’s allowed me to enter a relationship where I feel very comfortable and I’m just me. I’m unapologetically me.”
While acknowledging the challenges of dating in the spotlight, Glynne emphasises the positive experiences the public attention has brought.
A powerful message of resilience
Alex Scott’s story is one of remarkable resilience and self-love. She demonstrates the power of turning hateful experiences into motivation and finding strength in supportive relationships.
Scott’s continued success in the public eye, coupled with Glynne’s unwavering support, serves as an inspiration to anyone who has faced online abuse or battled self-doubt.