Lioness Star Chloe Kelly Reveals Threats and AI Deepfake Abuse
England football star Chloe Kelly has publicly detailed the disturbing threats and abuse she and her family face on social media, while also highlighting the alarming rise of AI-generated deepfake images. The Arsenal striker, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, is lending her voice to the government's Enough campaign, which aims to combat violence against women and girls.
Spike in Abuse After Major Tournaments
Kelly, aged 28, explained that she experiences a significant increase in abusive messages following major football tournaments. "I think after a major tournament, that's probably a time where you're reflecting, you're like, wow, the spike in followers, but also the spike in abuse as well," she told Sky Sports host Bela Shah. "Also DM's, threatening DMs, and not just to me, to my husband as well and to my family."
AI Deepfakes and Fake Profiles Cause Alarm
The footballer expressed concern over the misuse of artificial intelligence technology to create fake images and impersonate individuals online. "A lot of accounts pretending to be yourself, and teammates as well, I think is scary," Kelly said. "I think AI is incredible for so many things. But then there's also a negative side where people can pretend to be yourself and make fake pictures. And I think it's disappointing to see that there's so much great technology, but we're using it in a negative way."
Calling Out Abusive Behaviour
Kelly emphasised the importance of speaking up against inappropriate conduct, sharing an example of intimate images being circulated without consent. "Someone I know had their iCloud hacked and images being sent around to many WhatsApp groups and social media outlets," she revealed. "And I think it's just so disappointing. We need to take a stand on it. This is not what we accept."
She urged individuals, particularly men and boys, to challenge abusive behaviour. "I would say don't be afraid to call it out. You calling that out as a man or a boy is a big step in the right direction, and it only takes one person to make change," Kelly stated. "And together, if that's one person and another person together, we can make change. So I think it's really important that you take that step. It might take a lot for you to do that, but taking that step means so much to us as women."
Support from Fellow Athletes
Newcastle defender Dan Burn has also endorsed the Enough campaign, reinforcing Kelly's message. "I feel people are more comfortable now in calling people out," he said. The awareness initiative seeks to educate the public on recognising, questioning, and altering abusive behaviours.
Government Commitment to Change
Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls minister Jess Phillips outlined the government's objectives. "This government is on a mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. To succeed, we must drive change in every arena of our society, including sport," she declared. "That’s why, through the Enough campaign, we are working with some of the biggest names in sport to change the conversation in homes, schools, and communities across the country. To end the cycle of violence that’s become normal in the lives of so many. But we will not stop there. We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls."
