Taylor Townsend experienced something that no athlete should go through as she received death threats and was racially abused.
The 27-year-old enjoyed one of the better weeks of her career on the WTA Tour, but it certainly didn't end in the way that she wanted it to end. In the second round of the 2023 Italian Open, Townsend stunned the third-seeded Jessica Pegula, but her journey was stopped already in the next round by Xiyu Wang.
But that wasn't the reason why Townsend's Italian Open campaign didn't end in the way that she wanted it to end. After the loss, she dived into the messages on her social media profiles and what she found there was really shocking and disturbing.
While athletes often face a certain degree of public scrutiny and criticism, this specific message crossed a line, descending into racial slurs and even detailed death threats. It's not just a matter of an athlete receiving backlash; it's a matter of someone's life being threatened based on their racial identity, a reality that none should have to endure.
"Congratulations to fat dumb n*****. I'll find you and cut off your head, you deserve it. I want to go to jail. I will enjoy the moment. It will be all over the news. Your stupid head will be on the ground."
In a brave response, Taylor Townsend took to social media, questioning the current state of affairs and urging for action. She isn't the first player to talk about the death threats as her ATP colleague Taylor Fritz said that after every loss he receives around 50 death threats.
"How long do we have to deal with this type of BS? When is someone going to step up?"
What's of concern here isn't just the shocking incident in itself, but the reflection of a broader issue plaguing the world of sports - racial abuse and hate speech. The incident with Townsend isn't an isolated one. Many athletes, irrespective of their sport, have faced similar threats and racial abuse, predominantly on online platforms.
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