A former Scottish rugby captain is at the centre of a furious sexism row after a viral video captured him lifting a social media influencer onto a table during a raucous festival in France.
John Barclay, who earned 76 caps for Scotland, is seen in the clip hoisting the woman, who was wearing a miniskirt, as a crowd looked on. The incident has ignited a firestorm on social media, with many condemning the act as demeaning and inappropriate.
The footage, which quickly spread across platforms like X and Instagram, shows the moment at the Biarritz festival where Barclay, 42, lifts the influencer known as @mxrieellen. Critics were swift to label the act 'cringeworthy' and 'out of order', questioning the former athlete's judgement.
Backlash and Defence
The online reaction was immediate and severe. One user decried the act as 'absolute cringe', while others directly accused Barclay of sexism. However, the situation took a turn when the influencer involved publicly defended the former rugby star.
In a surprising move, she took to her own social media to shut down the criticism, stating she knew Barclay and had found the moment hilarious. Her defence has split public opinion, creating a stark divide between those who see the incident as harmless fun and those who view it as a symptom of deeper societal issues.
A Career Under Scrutiny
This controversy casts a shadow over Barclay's post-playing career, which has seen him become a respected pundit for BBC Sport. The incident raises questions about the behaviour expected of public figures off the field, especially in the age of smartphones and instant viral content.
As the debate continues to rage online, the episode serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a moment of festival high spirits can escalate into a full-blown public scandal, challenging reputations and sparking important conversations about consent and respect.
