"Following a televised FA Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Everton in January 2024, Barton likened Ward and Aluko in a post on X (formerly Twitter) to the Fred and Rose West of football commentary. He went on to superimpose the faces of the two women onto a photograph of the serial murderers. Barton had also tweeted that Aluko was in the Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category as she had murdered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of football fans' ears."
"In a statement after Barton's conviction, Aluko said: Social media is a cesspit where too many people feel they can say things to others they wouldn't dream of saying in real life under the guise of freedom of speech. This is a reminder that actions online do not come without consequences."
Former Premier League player Joey Barton was convicted of six counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety. A jury at Liverpool Crown Court found six posts he made on X targeted broadcaster Jeremy Vine and pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko crossed the line into criminality. Jurors acquitted him on some comparisons but convicted him over a superimposed image of the two women onto serial killers and an obscene DEI-related post. Eni Aluko said the messages were deeply distressing and damaging to her life and career. Barton avoided a custodial sentence.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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