A Scottish women’s football club, Kilmarnock, recently took down social media posts announcing their new signing, 16-year-old Skye Stout, due to cruel online trolling targeting her appearance.
Skye Stout, who joined Kilmarnock from Celtic, faced hateful comments about her skin condition, which is linked to acne, prompting the club to remove photos and videos of her.
The negative remarks, reportedly from grown men, flooded the club’s social media, turning what should have been a joyous moment into a distressing ordeal for the young athlete.
Football Factly, a news outlet on X, shared the story with its half-million followers, urging the football community to send messages of support to Stout.
Kilmarnock’s announcement of Stout’s signing was meant to celebrate her first professional contract, a milestone that was overshadowed by the toxic comments.
The club’s decision to delete the posts was an attempt to shield Stout from further harassment, but it also erased a proud moment from their social media pages.
Football Factly’s post about the incident garnered over 2.5 million views and 2,000 comments, with fans expressing outrage and support for the teenage footballer.
One fan, a Kilmarnock supporter, shared their own struggles with skin issues, praising Stout for her resilience and wishing her success in her career.
Another commenter condemned the trolls, stating that no young player should have their special moment ruined by online abuse and lauding Stout’s achievement.
Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf also voiced support, congratulating Stout and criticizing the “pathetic” trolls who targeted her.
Football commentator Adam Summerton expressed hope for Stout’s success, calling her signing a remarkable achievement for a young player.
The Scottish Women’s Football account condemned the misogyny in the sport, emphasizing that players like Stout deserve respect and recognition.
The Spartans, another Scottish football club, denounced the “vile” comments and wished Stout well in her new journey with Kilmarnock.
According to Footy Feed, Stout responded to the negativity with grace, stating she would “let my football do the talking” on the pitch.
Kilmarnock FC, founded in 1961, is the oldest women’s football club in Scotland and competes in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
Stout has reportedly deactivated her own social media accounts following the wave of online bullying, a sad consequence of the trolling.
The football community continues to rally around Stout, with fans and journalists slamming the bullies and celebrating her promising talent as she prepares for Kilmarnock’s season opener against St. Johnstone.