Chelsea captain Millie Bright and manager Sonia Bompastor have strongly condemned the homophobic abuse directed at Sam Kerr after the Chelsea striker and her partner, Kristie Mewis of West Ham, revealed they are expecting a baby.
The couple shared photos of Mewis’s baby bump on social media, but the post quickly drew hateful comments. Chelsea was forced to disable the comments section and issued a statement condemning the “unacceptable and hateful” messages.
Bright expressed her disappointment, saying: “If I weren’t a footballer, I’d leave social media right away. There’s a lot of good, but it’s often overshadowed by negativity. There shouldn’t be any room for comments like that or behavior like that. I completely disagree with it, and it should not be tolerated.”
She continued, emphasizing the power of social media for positive connections: “It can be either the best or the worst thing in the world. It’s a shame because social media should be a place for sharing memories and happiness. Let’s hope we can make it a better space and spread positive messages.”
Bright also shared her excitement for the couple, joking about their future child following in Kerr’s footsteps: “I can’t wait to see their baby doing backflips,” referring to Kerr’s iconic goal celebrations. She added, “We’re so happy for them. Seeing the joy it brings them both is what life is all about – bringing joy to others. We don’t have time for negative comments. Our focus is on spreading happiness and supporting each other, no matter the situation. That’s a value we hold as a club and as individuals.”
Bompastor, speaking before Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League match against Celtic, also expressed her support. “I just want to show my support for Sam. We fully back her,” she said. “It’s unacceptable to have comments like this. In 2024, it’s hard to understand how people can react this way. But I want to focus on the positives and show our support to Sam and Kristie. We’re really proud and happy for them. As a mother, becoming a mum is the best news you can have in your life, and I want to focus on that.”
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