- Lee McKenzie fired back at online trolls who made comments on her appearance
- McKenzie, 47, regularly features on Channel 4’s F1 coverage and on the BBC
TV sports presenter Lee McKenzie has spoke out after being targeted by online trolls who made ‘horrific’ comments about her weight.
McKenzie is a regularly presenter on both Channel 4 and the BBC and has worked on a variety of sports including F1, rugby and equestrian.
The 47-year-old made an appearance for the broadcaster’s coverage of the Spanish Grand Prix – in which Oscar Piastri claimed his fifth victory of the season – on Sunday.
However, McKenzie’s return was met by online trolls who commented on her physical appearance on the day and now the Channel 4 presenter has revealed that she had been struggling with ‘health issues’ in recent weeks.
Taking to Facebook, she wrote: ‘I’ve been thinking about whether I should post this but I will as it’s not just about me, it’s for all women and men too.
‘Last month I went into hospital for an operation and I’ve been struggling with some health issues for a while now.
Channel 4 presenter Lee McKenzie has spoken out after being targeted by online trolls
McKenzie revealed she’d been struggling with ‘health issues’ and shared a hospital selfie
‘As you see on here I’m a private person and I post about my work, not too much about life outside of work. I don’t need or want attention or validation.
‘But the comments about my appearance and weight at the Spanish Grand Prix have been horrific. I’ve had to turn off comments on my social media. It’s worth saying they came from women and men alike.
‘If you don’t like what someone wears or looks like on television, feel free to think about it but why send it to them? Why contact someone to be deliberately rude?
‘I’m a journalist and I’m good at my job and I’m furious that this affects me. But it does and there will be people out there getting similar abuse that are not as strong as me. Don’t do it.
‘The good news is that a larger operation that I thought I was going to get isn’t needed at the moment and things can be treated with medication. Many people have this. It’s not about being unwell. It’s about the vile comments from women and men commenting on my appearance.
‘My health is improving and I’m back at the gym. For me. Not for anyone else. Think before you write to someone’.
The post has since been ‘liked’ by over 25,000 Facebook users and 22,000 of her Instagram followers.
Accompanying the posts was a picture of McKenzie while at a previous F1 event and a selfie from the hospital bed – where she pose with a smile and a thumbs up.
McKenzie shared this image with followers on social media while at the Spanish Grand Prix
McKenzie regularly features for Channel 4 – as well as the BBC – for their racing coverage
McKenzie pictured attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards last month
Elsewhere on the day, a dejected Lewis Hamilton made a brutal Ferrari admission after finishing sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion is still waiting for his first podium since joining the Scuderia from Mercedes and was lost for words after his misery in Barcelona .
Hamilton came home in seventh but was bumped up one place after Max Verstappen careered into George Russell , an incident which saw him demoted down to 10th.
Unable to keep up with the two McLarens and Verstappen, Hamilton was told to let Charles Leclerc pass him early in the race, giving his team-mate a leg up as he went on to finish third, and he was overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg on the penultimate lap.
