Jockey and ITV/Sky Sports presenter Leonna Mayor has spoken publicly for the first time about the social media backlash she faced during her relationship with former Scotland and Lions rugby international Stuart Hogg, and has hit back at fresh online accusations.
The couple went public with their relationship in November 2023, just days after Hogg had welcomed his fourth child with ex-wife Gillian. Mayor, 35, and Hogg announced the arrival of their own son, Teddy, in February 2025, but their relationship broke down and it was confirmed they had parted ways in January of this year.
During their partnership, Hogg pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse of his ex-wife over a five-year period, admitting to shouting and swearing at her, tracking her movements and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature. He avoided jail but was sentenced to a community payback order with one year of supervision.
Mayor reflects on her response
Mayor stood by the international but in a new interview with the Racing Post, she says she could have handled the situation better.
"I don't think I reacted as well as I could have done," she told the publication. "I probably handled it badly. I responded to some people on social media when I perhaps shouldn't. Stuart and other people said I should ignore it but we all want to defend people we love, whether they're in the right or in the wrong. It's a natural thing to do."
She added: "The big thing that bothered me, and still bothers me, is that lies were printed by some newspapers. It felt like they were printing lots of gossip, and that's not fair on anyone. There should have to be evidence to back up things that were reported."
Career fears and single parenting
During the same interview, Mayor disclosed that she had fears for her career in the industry and that people had warned her to be careful.
Now single and raising Teddy alone, Mayor says she is lucky to have a strong family around her who help, including Hogg's parents.
"It's not what I wanted, and it's not a choice I made, but it's what happened," she added. "I didn't want to be a single parent and it's not what I want for my son. I want a happy family unit but that's not what it was and I didn't think I was going to have that. Instead, I would rather have two parents who are happy in their own lives. I'm also lucky because my mum, my stepdad and Teddy's grandparents on both sides are all unbelievable."
Mayor responds to fresh accusations
Mayor has since defended herself once again on social media, responding to those who have accused her of looking for sympathy with her latest sit-down interview.
"I didn't run off with anybody," she wrote on X, replying to one user. "He (Hogg) was separated before me fyi. And I am not looking for sympathy. Just stating facts."
Mayor, who is about to make a comeback in the saddle later this month in a charity race in Nottingham, also received a flurry of supportive messages from readers.
