Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has broken her social media silence to address a cheating scandal that erupted during a recent tournament, revealing she received tens of thousands of death threats in the aftermath.
The Incident That Sparked Controversy
The controversy unfolded during the 'Internet Invitational,' an event filmed over the summer and released in October 2025, where golf content creators and social media personalities competed. Spiranac was seen on camera stamping down long grass in front of the ball belonging to her playing partner, Malosi Togisala.
This action, which improves the lie of a ball, is a clear rules infraction in golf. Other competitors spotted the move in real-time and immediately confronted Spiranac about it. The golfer, known for her massive online following, claimed she was unaware she was breaking a rule and became visibly upset, even breaking down in tears during the event.
A Torrent of Online Abuse
After the incident came to light, Spiranac took a break from her social media platforms to protect her mental health. She returned on Tuesday with a series of Instagram Stories to share the severe impact the backlash had on her.
"The last week and a half is probably the worst hate I've ever received in the ten years of me doing this," Spiranac stated. She detailed receiving "tens of thousands of death threats" and people telling her to kill herself. The abuse was so extreme that she and her team discussed the possibility of obtaining a restraining order.
"I know people are wondering why I haven't posted or why I haven't talked about it, I just needed to remove myself for my mental health," she explained, adding that her desire to be liked made the situation particularly difficult to process.
Addressing the Accusations and Moving Forward
In her defence, Spiranac maintained that she never intentionally cheated. She expressed deep embarrassment for not knowing the rule and argued that deliberately cheating with so many cameras and people around would have been "insane."
"I am painfully, painfully embarrassed that I did not know this rule," she said in an Instagram Story. "I would never intentionally cheat. In all my years of playing golf, I have never been accused of cheating."
She concluded by acknowledging her mistake, vowing to never repeat it, and thanking her supporters for their messages. Ultimately, her team lost the match on the 18th hole, a result that was compounded by a separate cheating incident involving her partner, Togisala.
