British NASCAR driver Katherine Legge breaks silence on constant online abuse says, 'these things that they would never have the courage to say to people in real life'

British racing driver Katherine Legge has revealed she has faced an overwhelming wave of online abuse since stepping into the NASCAR scene in March. Speaking to CNN Sports, Legge detailed how she has received thousands of hateful messages, death threats, and inappropriate comments across multiple social media platforms.

Disturbing Messages Escalate

Legge shared that some of the messages she received were particularly horrifying. In one instance, a user on X messaged her directly urging her to hang herself, while another public post from the same account stated, “You need to be assassinated.” Other abusive comments even suggested she should "swallow a shotgun."

Initially, Legge attempted to ignore the harassment, hoping not to fuel the trolls by acknowledging them. However, following a challenging weekend at Rockingham, she decided it was time to speak out against the toxicity.

"Somebody Needs to Call It Out"

In her exclusive conversation with CNN, Legge explained why she could no longer stay silent about the escalating abuse.

“Online bullying is getting more toxic, and I think that somebody needs to call it out,” Legge said. “It’s shocking to read some of the vile things that people write. There just seems to be this whole online movement where people think that it’s OK to say these things that they would never have the courage to say to people in real life; or absolutely shouldn’t.”

Female Athletes Facing Rising Online Hate

Legge’s experience echoes those of several other female athletes who have recently spoken up about online threats. College basketball star Angel Reese tearfully addressed the abuse she faced at the end of her career, saying, “I’ve been through so much, I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times. Death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened.”

Similarly, WNBA star Breanna Stewart revealed that police were investigating homophobic death threats sent to her wife. French tennis player Caroline Garcia also reported disturbing comments on X, including messages urging her to commit suicide and wishing death upon her mother.

Being NASCAR's Lone Female Driver

While acknowledging that male NASCAR drivers also deal with online hate, Legge, currently the only woman competing full-time in the series, believes her treatment has been even harsher.

“It’s just noise,” she said. “I have a thick skin. It’s not worth my time or energy. I can honestly say it doesn’t phase me one way or the other, because they are people who I would not ask an opinion of. The people I respect—team members, my bosses, my partners, my family, my friends, and those who have been there and done it—are the voices that I listen to.”

Finding Strength Amid the Hate

Despite the cruelty she faces, Legge remains resolute and refuses to let the negativity define her.

“It’s just mind-blowing to me because I would never do it,” she added. “I would never go online and try and bring somebody else down to raise myself up and so I feel sorry for them, I guess, is the best way of putting it.”

By choosing to speak out, Katherine Legge not only shines a light on the increasingly toxic online culture but also serves as a voice of resilience for athletes battling similar challenges.