"I didn’t know how to handle it": Paige Spiranac addresses "s*xual favors" rumors, opens up about bullying and media pressure

Paige Spiranac, a golf star, has just survived rumors that have surrounded the beginning of her professional career for a long time. Discussing her initial encounter in 2015 at Dubai Ladies Masters, she said it was "the worst moment of my life." Rumors before the invitation reception resulted in enormous criticism that hurt her mental health.

In an interview on the Quiet Please! podcast with Mel Reid and Kira Dixon, Spiranac remembered looking back on the experience. She conceded that her presence might have "ruffled feathers" within the world of golf. According to Tribune, Spiranac acknowledged,

"I went from having 500 followers to 100,000, and I didn’t know how to handle it,"

She also remembered when she was accused of having performed "s*xual favors" to get her tour invite, saying,

"There were constant comments, like, ‘I did s*xual favors to get this invite, and they would say [it] within earshot of me. It was tough.”

The public scandal and caustic criticism hindered her from moving on in the early years of her career.

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Challenges in the early years of Spiranac's career

Social media spotlight and controversy

When she played in her first tournament, Spiranac was transitioning from college golf to the professional tour. Her high social media profile attracted attention and controversy. Some golfers felt that it was unusual for her to be invited and questioned whether she deserved to play.

She faced the backlash in full force when she increased her level of online engagement, with many critics believing that she had won through internet fame rather than earning it in the game.

Spiranac also disclosed that the intense media attention and unverified reports affected her mental health. According to iHeart, she explained that the bullying she faced left her in a state of turmoil:

"I show up and was doing hours of press, which I wasn’t prepared for. I had no training to do this. And I would say there were a couple of girls who were really supportive and who were nice, but the majority, it was brutal. I would go on the range and girls would just scatter. No one wanted to hit next to me."

The psychological pressure of performing under the piercing scrutiny of a hypercritical public eye, and the traditionalist expectations of the golfing world, stifled her ability to concentrate on her sport.

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Advocacy against cyberbullying

Moving on from the woes that have fallen upon her, Spiranac has evolved into a cyberbullying activist. She works with institutions such as The Cybersmile Foundation on campaigns that seek to educate individuals on cyberbullying and its impacts.

On her social media platforms, she keeps lamenting over the evils of social media judgment and mob opinion.

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Encouraging positive change in online discourse

Spiranac has also highlighted the need for a shift in the way sportspeople, particularly women sportspersons, are constructed and spoken about in the media. She has spoken about the need to respect people whether they follow them on social media or are public figures.

Her activism brings more reflection and accountability on social media, asking the fans and commentators to think about what they post and how it will impact them.

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Reinventing the golf world's norms

Despite the barriers she had to overcome as she started her career, Spiranac has leveraged her voice to campaign for the integration of golf. She is very compelling with her audience, sharing her story and campaigning for a more compassionate place for the players. Her movement continues to break down the norms in the sport.

The path to fame of Spiranac as an internet sensation has upset the traditional path to success in the world of golf. Her refusal to accept a more conventional path has been condemned by some, but others have welcomed her as an innovator bringing the sport into new markets and modernizing it.

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Paige Spiranac's case is one of media visibility and public opinion in elite sports. In criticizing past rumors and talking openly about her history, she uncovered the larger problem of cyberbullying and mental illness in sports.

While her road to fame has not been traditional, Spiranac is poised to turn the page for women in sports.

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