Latest news with #onlinehate
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Petkovic says betting a reason for online hate against tennis stars
German tennis player Andrea Petkovic in action against Belarus's Aliaksandra Sasnovich during their women's singles round of 16 match of the WTA German Open tournament at the Steffi Graf Stadium. Petkovic has blamed the sports betting industry as the main cause of online hate directed at tennis stars. Wolfgang Kumm/dpa Former German professional Andrea Petkovic has blamed the sports betting industry as the main cause of online hate directed at tennis stars. Several top tennis players have recently complained about a daily deluge of online aggression and Petkovic believes it is often gamblers who are upset with how matches pan out. Advertisement "These are people who apparently bet their entire salary on a player, on a match in a tournament – and don't even consider that this might not be a good idea," the former world number nine told the news portal T-Online on Saturday. According to a report by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), 8,000 social media comments were classified as abusive, threatening or violent last year. Of these, 40% came from "angry bettors." Petkovic, who is currently working as a director at the Berlin tennis tournament, is familiar with the vile messages from her active playing days. "Maybe 5% of all messages I received were actual threats. But the majority consisted of insults, abuse, and swearing. Once someone wrote 'I hope you die,'" Petkovic recounted. Advertisement The now 37-year-old was unable to prevent the hate on platforms such as Instagram. Her solution was novel. She said: "In the first 20 or 30 minutes after a match, you hand your phone to your mum, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend or coach – and they go through all the messages and comments that came in during that time. Then it starts: delete, block, delete, block. That can take 30 minutes sometimes." The psychological impact on tennis professionals should not be underestimated, according to Petkovic. "Nowadays, every tournament has a mental health support service, with phone numbers players can call," she explained.
Irish Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Women in Ireland increasingly subjected to online hate and misogyny, groups warn
Women in Ireland are increasingly subjected to online hate and misogyny amid a growing global backlash against women's rights, representative groups have warned. The National Women's Council (NWC), in consultation with more than 200 member groups including trade unions, professional bodies and grassroots organisations, have cited the spread of far-right discourse and anti-migrant sentiment as particularly threatening to women's rights in Ireland and globally. The organisation launched its new strategic plan for 2025-2029, Time to Act for Women's Rights and Equality, on Thursday. It said the use of social media to spread online hate and misogyny had become an issue in need of 'a response at the highest level'. READ MORE It also cited the use of artificial intelligence as posing a risk to 'women's online safety, to job security, and to the environment'. NWC president Orla O'Connor expressed concern about 'a hardening of discourses in relation to migrants and those seeking asylum and refugees', adding that 'there is a shift in relation to how we treat people coming to Ireland seeking international protection and a better future'. She also expressed concern about those experiencing war abroad. 'Women and children are bearing the brunt of war and conflict. In Gaza, we are witnessing a genocide taking place before our eyes.' The NWC noted that both the gender pay gap and the pension gap have remained high in Ireland, at 10 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. It cited the dominance of women in care professions and carrying out unpaid care responsibilities as contributing to these figures. [ Women still underrepresented on councils amid online abuse and lack of support Opens in new window ] Ms O'Connor acknowledged there had been 'important advances' in women's rights in Ireland over recent years, including with the introduction of the free contraception and hormone replacement therapy scheme. However, in other areas, she said 'the pace of change remains painfully slow'. 'Women make up more than half of the population but only represent 25 per cent of our TDs and 28 per cent of local councillors.' The strategic plan aims to 'promote human rights and equality, through mobilising, influencing and building solidarity'. The organisation has called on Government to prioritise decisive actions that will make a difference to women's lives such as the introduction of gender quotas for local election candidates, combating online misogyny and providing accessible housing and accommodation to those in need.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Why is Bella Ramsey getting so much hate online?
The second season of HBO's hit series The Last of Us wrapped up on Sunday with a dramatic finale. But in recent weeks, the show's star Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, has become the target of a significant amount of online criticism and ridicule. Worse, a lot of it has been specifically directed at their non-binary identity. Today on Commotion, culture reporter Kat Tenbarge explains how the online hate campaign against Bella Ramsey got so bad.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rachael Finch shows off her figure as she rocks skinny jeans while snapping selfies in a salon - after Gen Z declared the denim staple is out of style
Rachael Finch was embracing a sometimes maligned trend on Tuesday. The former Miss Universe runner-up was spotted working her angles in a pair of skin tight skinny jeans during an outing in a salon in Sydney 's Cronulla. She paired the sleek trousers with a black leather belt and tank top in the same dark tone. She completed the look with a pair of stacked white sneakers and opted for a natural makeup look. Rachael could be seen posing up a storm while her phone was attached to a glass door with a suction holder. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Skinny jeans had fallen out of favour in recent years, with Gen Z declaring them uncool and dated. But the tide appears to have changed in 2025, with many young influencers declaring the 2010s staple is back in vogue. It comes after Rachael shared a horrific message she received from an online hater, and hit back at the troll. She posted to Instagram on Monday to read out a brutal email she was sent via her supplement brand Kissed Earth. The message slammed the company for being 'boring' and accused Rachael of giving children Violet, nine, and Dominic, six, a 'life of boredom and misery'. 'Just wanted to know why this brand of product is any different or more effective than the millions that are already on the market,' the message began. 'It's just so boring. The market is well over-saturated, so what is your point of difference? Or is it that it is owned by a runner-up Miss Australia from 16 years ago?' 'Is that how she justifies her excessive price point? Also, what medical doctors were consulted in the development of the powdered oral range?' it continued. The hate message went on to say humans 'have existed and thrived on this planet for millions of years' without the help of 'gut tonics or turmeric enemas'. 'You are just the most boring and angular-faced woman on Australian TV,' they added. The troll then accused Rachael of making 'controversial statements online just to get people thinking' about the mother-of-two and her brand. 'People don't like you because your kids live a life of boredom and misery,' they said, referencing the gruelling exercise regime Rachel and her husband Michael Miziner have for their kids. 'They aren't having fun working out with their bats*** crazy mother on Christmas morning, that's for sure. 'Get a life and stop trying to ride on the tailcoats [sic] of a long forgotten title that, in the modern day, holds virtually no relevance as compared to 20 years ago.' They then said the Miss Universe pageant title Rachael once competed for is now seen as 'irrelevant, chauvinistic and boastful'. The message also took aim at her 2010 stint on Dancing With The Stars, saying the competition show was just 'satire'. 'Don't you get it? We're laughing at you, not for you. All of your accomplishments are decades old now,' they said. Rachael appeared to take the horrific and lengthy message in her stride, saying she 'felt sad' for the troll as they were 'clearly going through a lot of hurt'. 'But overarching this is a perfect example of why we need to teach our kids inner strength and resilience,' she added. Rachael said 'there is nothing more important' than teaching children how to 'believe in themselves' and 'back themselves' in the face of adversity. 'To recognise only their opinion matters and they do not need outside validation to determine who they are,' she said. Rachael finished the video by encouraging her followers to be a strong 'support base' for their children so they can build their confidence.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rachael Finch shares lengthy hate message from brutal online troll who called her a 'bats*** crazy mother': 'Get a life'
Rachael Finch has shared a horrific message she received from an online hater, and hit back with her own retort against the troll. The former Miss Universe runner-up, 36, took to Instagram on Monday to read out a brutal email she received through her supplement brand Kissed Earth. The message slammed the company for being 'boring' and accused Rachael of giving children Violet, nine, and Dominic, six, a 'life of boredom and misery'. 'Just wanted to know why this brand of product is any different or more effective than the millions that are already on the market,' the message began. 'It's just so boring. The market is well over-saturated, so what is your point of difference? Or is it that it is owned by a runner-up Miss Australia from 16 years ago?' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Is that how she justifies her excessive price point? Also, what medical doctors were consulted in the development of the powdered oral range?' it continued. The hate message went on to say humans 'have existed and thrived on this planet for millions of years' without the help of 'gut tonics or turmeric enemas'. 'You are just the most boring and angular-faced woman on Australian TV,' they added. The troll then accused Rachael of making 'controversial statements online just to get people thinking' about the mother-of-two and her brand. 'People don't like you because your kids live a life of boredom and misery,' they said, referencing the gruelling exercise regime Rachel and her husband Michael Miziner have for their kids. 'They aren't having fun working out with their bats*** crazy mother on Christmas morning, that's for sure. 'Get a life and stop trying to ride on the tailcoats [sic] of a long forgotten title that, in the modern day, holds virtually no relevance as compared to 20 years ago.' They then said the Miss Universe pageant title Rachael once competed for is now seen as 'irrelevant, chauvinistic and boastful'. The message also took fire at her 2010 stint on Dancing With The Stars, saying the competition show is just 'satire'. 'Don't you get it? We're laughing at you, not for you. All of your accomplishments are decades old now,' they said. 'Now people just think of you as a helicopter mother with a side of "Munchausen by proxy"—now called a factitious disorder imposed on another. Rachael appeared to take the horrific and lengthy message in her stride, saying she 'felt sad' for the troll as they were 'clearly going through a lot of hurt'. 'But overarching this is a perfect example of why we need to teach our kids inner strength and resilience,' she added. Rachael said 'there is nothing more important' than teaching children how to 'believe in themselves' and 'back themselves' in the face of adversity. 'To recognise only their opinion matters and they do not need outside validation to determine who they are,' she said. Rachael finished the video by encouraging her followers to be a strong 'support base' for their children so they can build their confidence.
