Paige Spiranac. Image via: Getty Images Paige Spiranac, the popular golf influencer, has opened up about the intense backlash she faced after a controversial moment during the Internet Invitational. The 32-year-old, a former college golf standout, found herself at the center of a storm following the tournament’s dramatic conclusion, which aired on YouTube earlier this month.The event, organized by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports, featured a $1 million prize and attracted over 20 million views across six episodes. Despite her team losing the final, Spiranac was accused of cheating after cameras showed her tamping down grass in front of a ball, a move not allowed under golf rules. The controversy quickly exploded online, sparking extreme reactions from fans.
Paige Spiranac reveals the death threats and abuse she endured
In an emotional Instagram Q&A, Spiranac detailed the severe backlash she experienced. “The last week and a half has been probably the worst hate I’ve ever received in the ten years of me doing this,” she said. “I’m talking tens of thousands of death threats, people telling me to kill myself, the most vile, horrendous stuff you could ever say to an individual. That’s been in my DMs to the point where we were discussing me having to potentially get a restraining order. I mean, it’s serious stuff. It’s not easy, and it hasn’t been easy.”Despite assurances from fellow competitors that her actions were unintentional, the Colorado native faced a torrent of criticism online. “I am painfully embarrassed that I did not know this rule, but I would never intentionally cheat,” Spiranac said. She emphasized that throughout her career, she has never been accused of cheating and was caught off guard by the intense reaction.
Stepping away from social media for mental health
The overwhelming abuse prompted Spiranac to take a break from social media to protect her mental health. “I just needed to remove myself for my mental health,” she explained. “One thing that I really struggle with is wanting to be liked and accepted, and I don’t want anyone to ever dislike me. I always try to do everything I can to have people like me. It’s just hard for me as a person with how I process things.”She also expressed gratitude for her support system, noting that family and friends helped her cope. “Luckily, having a good support system, family around, and just trying to stay distracted,” she said, “made it a little easier to get through this.”While the Internet Invitational incident, sometimes dubbed “Slopegate,” will continue to be discussed in the golf world, Spiranac is focused on moving forward and learning from the experience. Also Read: Alexis Sanchez’s girlfriend makes astonishing revelation about ‘biggest secret’ she kept for nine months
