Laura Woods admits her mum helps her with brutal Twitter responses to trolls
Laura Woods has opened up about the trolling she faces on Twitter and how her mum's helped her deal with it.
As a female broadcaster in the world of sport, Laura Woods is no stranger to negative - and sexist - social media comments.
However, the 35-year-old decided early on in her career she'd always give back as 'good as she could get'.
And who should be on hand to help her but her mum. Prepare yourself for a pretty epic clap-back.
Advert
On Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks' Staying Relevant podcast, the Sports Breakfast show presenter explained she's come under fire even from Arsenal fans like herself.
Last month, a clip of Arsenal players signing a shirt for a young mascot was widely criticised - with the squad accused by some of not making eye contact or fully engaging with the young girl.
Woods - an Arsenal fan herself - was similarly disappointed in the video and called it out as well as getting in touch with the club.
But Arsenal fans were having none of it.
Thankfully, Woods told Wicks and Thompson she's developed a thick skin since entering the industry and can come up with some pretty cut-throat responses - of which she has a few tips and tricks up her sleeve, including her mum (not literally up her sleeve that is).
Woods explains in trying to understand the culture of football and social media and how 'the two go together', she decided from the get-go she'd always give 'as good as [she] could get'.
She said: "I've replied a couple of times [to negative comments] about people's manhood, [...] but it's only ever a retaliation.
"I never understand when people say, 'Oh but you can't say that'.
"Am I a sitting duck? Just because I'm a broadcaster, you're allowed to say anything you want about me and as soon as I reply - and I will win, like I'm very stubborn about things like that - I will f**king fight to the death."
Woods goes on to note she's also enlisted the help of her mum when shooting sharp responses back to any online haters.
She explains: "Back in the day... my mum is really good at proof reading.
"I sent her a tweet where someone said something along the lines of, 'Get back in the kitchen'. The most boring one.
"And I was like, 'I f**king will get back in the kitchen that I own, in the house that I bought from the job where I earn money.'
"And anyway, I wrote this whole thing and sent it to my mum and said, 'Can you proof read that for me?'"
And it's a good thing Woods did send it to her mum, who spotted there was a typo in the tweet and we all know a clap-back is never half as good if it's got a spelling mistake in it.
As they droned to us at school, re-read your work, or just send it to your mum. Mums do know best, after all.
Topics: Football, Sport, TV and Film, Celebrity, Twitter, Social Media, Mental Health, Parenting
Poppy Bilderbeck