Sky Sports News presenter Alison Bender has revealed a vile rape threat sent to her on social media and warned such abuse is ‘pretty common place’ for women in the industry.
Bender, who has worked for Real Madrid TV, ESPN and Premier League Productions, posted screenshots on her Instagram story showing a message in which a user threatened to sexually assault her ‘in front of her children’.
She added the caption ‘Blocked and reported’ over the image.
Bender then shared a series of posts responding to shocked followers. In one, she wrote: ‘Well, what can I say? Thanks for all your message,s including those who say he should be reported to the police.
‘The sad part is I don’t really bat an eyelid, many of you are shocked, outraged, angry, sad, but for my female colleagues we know this is pretty common place.
‘I call it out to hope that it stops but really we need more help for the platforms themselves. You should be verified and accountable.’
Sky Sports News presenter Alison Bender has revealed she was sent a vile rape threat on Instagram
Bender (right) warned that abuse of this nature has become ‘pretty common place’ for women in sports broadcasting
In a follow-up she said what worried her most was how desensitised she had become to the abuse, adding: ‘It also makes me worry that I’m becoming immune or numb to what is morally right and wrong because I am exposed to so much of it.
‘Anyway, don’t worry about me I’m absolutely fine. And thanks 99% of my followers on here are awesome. The rest can **** off.’
Bender’s frank posts have drawn widespread support from colleagues and viewers.
In an interview with The Sun in 2023 she spoke of the challenges of being a woman in football journalism, recalling being ‘shooed away’ from Real Madrid training under Fabio Capello and having to pump breast milk in stadium toilets while on assignment.
She is not the first female presenter to go public with the abuse she receives. Last year TNT Sports host Laura Woods revealed she had received death threats aimed at her unborn child after weighing in on the Olympic boxing gender row involving Imane Khelif.
Bender hopes highlighting her experience will increase pressure on social-media platforms to do more to protect female journalists from online harassment.
