Sky Sports presenter Anna Woolhouse has revealed the extent of the abusive comments she receives about her appearance from strangers on social media - especially when she posts about going to the gym or working out.
Woolhouse is the face of Sky Sports boxing coverage and regularly shares her passion for fitness on Instagram.
But the broadcaster, 34, recently shared a different type of post, revealing some of the abusive comments she’s received online from trolls.
“Anna you skinny sket, why are you so cocky for? Helpful advice - eat more instead of going to the gym and trying to be a man with six-packs. You look like you don’t get fed at home with your boney arms and legs. I love how you wear makeup because you are so ugly without it [sic],” commented one person who ended the message with two ‘crying with laughter’ emojis.
“What kind of lunatic women posts videos of her lifting weights [sic]?” added another.
Whilst many of the comments focussed on Anna’s appearance and criticised her love of the gym, others claimed she had only got her job because she’s a woman.
“Your a silly skinny slut who dosent know s*** about boxing [sic],” one troll wrote.
Woolhouse, however, says she tries not to let abusive comments get to her.
“Working in this industry I think you do have to have a pretty thick skin, but we are all human at the end of the day and sometimes it is hard to ignore very personal and nasty things that are said or written about you,” she tells The Independent.
“In the last 48 hours I have received some awful comments regarding the way I look, being a woman in the industry and about my family which have been hard to ignore, so I decided to highlight this by publicly publishing the messages.
“It really is sickening to think that people are able to hide behind their keyboards and say such hurtful, vile things without any consequences and I feel strongly this needs to change.
“Social media is an amazing tool and, when it is used correctly, has so many positive benefits. But, as with most things in life there is always a small percentage of people who try to ruin it. But hopefully conversation makes change.”
Woolhouse worked in radio before moving to Sky Sports, where she has presented coverage of netball, ice hockey, F1 and now boxing.
However she is “baffled” by why women in the public eye are critiqued for their appearance more than men.
“I understand that working in TV opens you up to a level of criticism and opinion, but the level to which I have experienced this over the past couple of days is simply unacceptable and shouldn’t be allowed whether you are male or female,” she says.
“There have also been two or three other stories about women in the public eye being criticised for the way they look, yet I haven’t seen anything written about any men in the same vein and I struggle to think of any cases that stand out in my mind.”
Just a few days ago, in fact, fellow sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher posted some pictures on Instagram of her working out in the gym, and although many of her followers complimented Gallacher on her strength and said her pictures motivated them to get fit, there were also some negative comments about Gallacher exercising.
“Don’t over do it KG becoming to muscular [sic],” commented one person.
Woolhouse believes men generally don’t have to deal with so much scrutiny of their bodies.
“Women are still viewed differently in the media to men and, before they have even spoken a word, seem to be judged on what they look like rather than what they say,” she explains. “Everyone has an opinion of what they think a women should look like and if it doesn’t fit into their perfect idyll you are categorised as ugly, too fat, too thin, too muscly etc.”
She says that most of the negative opinions she receives about her looks come from men, but this doesn’t put her off hitting the gym.
“Because I am someone who loves to train, isn’t afraid to lift weights and openly puts this out on social media, sadly this seems to open me up to being judged for the way I look,” says Woolhouse. “I have always said I train for myself and no one else.
“However, I do have to say on the flip-side of that it isn’t all doom and gloom, I do receive many lovely positive comments from both male and females about my training and how they have used it as motivation for themselves.”
Woolhouse says she finds it “crazy” that anyone is criticised for keeping fit and looking after themselves, but the irony of working in sport and being trolled for being passionate about fitness isn’t lost on her.
“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be encouraged whatever you do, but for me working in sport it goes hand in hand and is something I’ve always been into,” she says.
“Thankfully I feel my passion for fitness works in my favour when it comes to my job. I often have conversations with coaches, colleagues and fighters about training and I think perhaps they respect me because I’m not afraid to push myself and train hard and they can relate to that.
“But, there is also the downside as I do experience people telling me I’m too muscly or that I should stop lifting weights as they feel it isn’t ladylike. All of which are ridiculous comments.
“I’m proud that I am strong and like to train, so what if I have muscles!? I honestly have no idea as to why they make such remarks, but perhaps it’s their insecurities or it is me not fitting their idea of what a woman should look like. Either way I’m not going to change and will continue to enjoy my passion for fitness.”
