Katherine Legge responds to ‘vile’ messages over | Sports News

Katherine Legge has pulled back the curtain on the online bullying she’s obtained since taking her skills to the NASCAR Cup Series.

Last month, Legge piloted the No. 78 Chevrolet within the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway – changing into the primary lady to get behind the wheel of NASCAR’s present Next Gen car and simply the eighth lady to compete within the Cup Series’ trendy period. Prior to the occasion, the final feminine driver to race in Cup was Danica Patrick, who competed within the 2018 Daytona 500.

It hasn’t precisely been easy crusing to this point in Legge’s Cup Series profession, as she’s suffered wrecks in her first two races at Phoenix and Rockingham. The Live Fast Motorsports driver will look to obtain higher outcomes whereas racing in 12 of the subsequent 18 NASCAR weekends in both the Cup or Xfinity Series.

Speaking to CNN’s Don Riddell, Legge revealed that her Cup Series debut has been met with a fierce wave of backlash – as 1000’s of “vile” messages and even death threats have been thrown at her.

“Online bullying is getting more toxic, and I think that somebody needs to call it out,” she stated. “It’s shocking to read some of the vile things that people write, there just seems to be this whole online movement where people think that it’s OK to say these things that they would never have the courage to say to people in real life; or absolutely shouldn’t.”

Though many athletes of each genders are sometimes the victims of online bullying, Legge argued that feminine opponents are focused at a a lot larger price – particularly after they’re competing in a male-dominated sport akin to herself.

“I think it’s more prevalent with women in sports, especially with women in male-dominated sports, because we stick out more, you know? There is the opinion that we are a gimmick, or we shouldn’t be there because we’re DEI hires and we haven’t earned our spot,” she stated.

Despite being the web’s punching bag at occasions, Legge asserted that she isn’t letting the detrimental feedback from critics get to her. “It’s just noise,” she stated. “I have a thick skin. It’s not worth my time or energy.

“I can honestly say it doesn’t phase me one way or the other, because they are people who I would not ask an opinion of. The people I respect, team members, my bosses, my partners, my family, my friends, and those who have been there and done it, are the voices that I listen to.

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“It’s just mind-blowing to me because I would never do it,” Legge continued. “I would ever go online and try and bring somebody else down to raise myself up and so I feel sorry for them, I guess, is the best way of putting it.”

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps swiftly condemned the online therapy of Legge – insisting that the 44-year-old has carried out more than enough to earn her spot on the Cup Series grid. “I want to be crystal clear about this, we condemn this behavior. It is unacceptable, this is not appropriate for NASCAR, sports, or the world,” he stated.

“This is a woman who has competed very successfully in all forms of motorsports and we want her here at NASCAR. They can take their opinions and their hate right out of NASCAR, because there’s just no place for it.”