Liverpool of England female team striker, Rinsola Babajide has declared that she is staying determined to overcome escalating abuse directed at her via social media, even as she admitted it has become ‘draining’ in recent time, megasportsarena.com reports.
While affirming that she hopes the recent cross-sport social media boycott can inspire positive change, the 22-year-old Nigerian-born England international added that she will continue laying her own role in trying to turn things around.
Babajide acknowledged that the abuse she receives online is draining and tiring, but conceded that it is something she has to deal with on a regular basis as a black woman in the game and she shared a screenshot of the racist and sexist abuse she was sent on Instagram in April.
She is one of a growing number of athletes that have been targeted on social media platforms in recent months and, despite reaching the conclusion that she is no longer surprised the abuse occurs, Babajide is adamant the perpetrators will not stop her from playing the sport she loves.
Babajide expatiated during Sky Sports’ Women’s Football Show: “The recent thing that occurred is just someone being sexist and racist towards me under one of my posts. It is draining and tiring but I can’t say I am surprised because it has happened so often.
“As a Black female in the game, I just feel like it is part of playing the sport because it has happened so often. I just need to make sure I stay strong, ignore it and carry on doing what I love.
“Even my parents and my family members scrolling through, they are disgusted by it. It has happened so regularly that no one is actually surprised. They just want to make sure that it doesn’t affect me.
“We’ve always been told as professional athletes that we should speak out, to try and make a change. A lot of us have actually spoken out and social media platforms are still not being accountable.”
