Journalist insulted on Twitter by sports fans following her criticism

Location: Australia, Lilyfield

Date: March 23, 2024

Women Press Freedom stands unequivocally with Eliza Barr in the face of online harassment following her reporting on misogynistic and homophobic behavior at a rugby match in Lilyfield, Australia, on March 23, 2024. Barr's critique was met with an avalanche of online abuse, predominantly from men, seeking to demean and silence her. The widespread sexism targeting women journalists who comment on sports is deplorable, exemplified by attempts to discredit Barr by portraying her as uninformed. We urge the National Rugby League to address the offensive and hateful comments being espoused in public at their matches and urge them to denounce the harassment of Barr online loudly. Sports communities should foster safe and inclusive environments for their fans regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. We also reiterate our call to social media platforms, particularly Twitter, that are utterly failing at protecting women from online harassment and vitriol. Accounts spreading hate and abuse must be shut down.

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“Footy matches are not special places where men get a pass from behaving like respectable human beings,” wrote Daily Telegraph reporter Eliza Barr as she recounted her experience of hearing vile homophobic and misogynistic rants from fans at a rugby league game.

The journalist, a long-time rugby fan, described her disgust at the open use of offensive language by men at a Wests Tigers versus Cronulla Sharks match at Leichhardt Oval stadium on March 23, 2024. 

“I'm on the hill at Leichhardt Oval right now, and the disgusting, misogynistic, violent, and offensive language we are being subjected to by a specific handful of male Tigers fans right now is so reprehensible and vile I can't tell you,' she posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Her comment made her a lightning rod for harassment from supposed sports fans. Commenters on the site, primarily men, told her she was too “soft” if this was her opinion because this is “just how things are.” Many questioned Barr's right to report on the issue or suggested that she should have removed herself from the situation instead of speaking out. 

“Mind-blowing number of people (men…) in here saying women are the problem for being uncomfortable when men are singing overtly rapey made-up songs and making homophobic and racist remarks at a sporting match. (It's very revealing of you! Extremely revealing!),” Barr remarked in a separate post.

Barr says she also received messages of support from fellow journalists and concerned citizens following her criticism of the fans’ behavior. Users acknowledged the importance of addressing such behavior and standing up against misogyny and homophobia in sports culture. 

Barr, though not a sports journalist by trade, is an avid sports fan. When she witnessed behavior at a public event that she felt was unacceptable, her commentary was a fair critique, considering the event's audience also included families and children. The response to her criticism spoke volumes. Many male commentators reacted angrily, seemingly perturbed by a woman journalist daring to speak out publicly on what she observed. This reaction isn't isolated but reflects a broader issue faced by women in the public eye. When women express opinions, they often become targets of misogynistic and hateful commentary, fostering a climate of self-censorship. 

When women venture into domains perceived as predominantly male, such as sports, the backlash intensifies. The objective appears clear: to silence, intimidate, and deter women from expressing their views openly. Online harassment disproportionately affects women journalists, inundating them with sexist insults, undermining their authority, and even resorting to threats of sexual violence. This pattern of behavior is not only unjust but also inhibits diversity of thought and expression in public discourse.

Women Press Freedom condemns the harassment directed at Barr following her critique addressing misogyny and homophobia within sports fan communities. It is disheartening to witness women repeatedly targeted by online mobs to silence and intimidate them. Barr's resilience in speaking out about her experiences is commendable, and we stand in solidarity with her. The National Rugby League must take this opportunity to address the disgraceful behavior of some of its clubs’ supporters. Offensive language online or offline targeting women and the LGBTQI community is abhorrent. We call on the league to address this unacceptable language from some fans at their games and to denounce the harassment against Barr for expressing her opinion on the matter.

Social media platforms, too, are responsible for taking decisive action to protect their users from online harassment. Accounts that persistently target and attack women for expressing their opinions must be banned from these platforms after being reported.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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