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World Cup Reporter Defiantly Trolls Qatar's Ban On Pro-LGBTQ+ Clothing During Live Report
Former professional footballer and current BBC reporter Alex Scott made quite the statement when she wore a "OneLove" rainbow armband while reporting at the World Cup in Qatar.
Just hours earlier, FIFA announced players who sported the armbands would be issued yellow cards.
Originally, captains for England, Wales, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands were going to wear the bands to show their support for diversity and inclusivity, but FIFA decided the risk was too large for such a high-stakes platform.
Scott, however, trolled Qatar—a country that criminalizes same-sex relationships—on live TV.
\u201cAlex scott a women who has just come out and now is in a country where she she can be killed or imprisoned for being part of the community is wearing the one love armband, brave and powerful stuff from her\u201d— - A\ud83e\udd8b (@- A\ud83e\udd8b) 1669035911
And don't think for a second the twitterverse didn't notice her statement piece.
\u201cLove this. \ud83d\udc95 Brava, Alex! \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u201d— George Takei (@George Takei) 1669148940
@AlexScott well deserved praise
— ben cairns (@bencairns2) November 22, 2022
\u201cGood on Alex Scott for standing up and wearing the armband.\u201d— Philip Thompson (@Philip Thompson) 1669158561
\u201cAlex Scott wearing the #OneLove armband after England\u2019s decision to abandon the gesture over FIFA sanctions. \nA Powerful statement...\nA Powerful woman \ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\n#OneLove #FIFAWorldCup\u201d— briansawey (@briansawey) 1669099320
\u201cAlex Scott wearing a #OneLove armband on the BBC \u2764\ufe0f\n\n#equality #inclusion #allyship\u201d— Enact Solutions (@Enact Solutions) 1669114978
\u201cAlex Scott has more courage than every single team playing in the World Cup, and wore a #OneLove armband. \ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f @AlexScott #LGBTQIA\u201d— Sarah O'Connell (@Sarah O'Connell) 1669085025
\u201cLastly, massive shoutout to this woman. The only person in this entire affair who has any guts and is wearing the LGBT armband that FIFA banned. Your support is greatly appreciated Alex Scott :)\u201d— Fae Fortuna \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f @FaeFortuna@mastodon.lol (@Fae Fortuna \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f @FaeFortuna@mastodon.lol) 1669125002
\u201cAlex Scott wearing the one love armband live on BBC has my utmost respect. WHAT a woman of my heart \ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffc\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Ellie (@Ellie) 1669033815
\u201cAlex Scott rocking the armband, more balls than the FA\u201d— Day (@Day) 1669033609
\u201cNormally absolutely love the World Cup but this year I cannot watch it due to the way Qatar treat human beings. Full respect to Alex Scott for donning the #OneLove armband when so many national teams caved to pressure\u201d— Freya Herzberg \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Freya Herzberg \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1669068480
\u201cI don\u2019t care if this angers the stale, pale and male brigade but Alex Scott is a bloody legend for wearing the One Love armband inside the Qatar Stadium.\u201d— Erika Morris (@Erika Morris) 1669034351
\u201cSanctioning players for wearing the one love armband!!\n\nTherefore England have opted out of wearing it today. Props to Alex Scott though for making a stand. \n\n#Onelove #England #worldcup\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u201d— Tara Humphrey (@Tara Humphrey) 1669052591
Scott's employer BBC even tweeted their support.
\u201cEngland, Wales and other European nations aren't wearing the OneLove armband.\n\nBut ex-England international Alex Scott is inside the Khalifa International Stadium.\n\n\ud83d\udcbb\ud83d\udda5\ud83d\udcf1 Watch on @BBCiPlayer, listen on @BBCSounds, get more on the @BBCSport app\n\n#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup\u201d— BBC Sport (@BBC Sport) 1669034042
Scott, who has not defined her sexuality, did reveal in her memoir she and Arsenal teammate Kelly Smith were in a relationship from 2005 to 2013.
Scott made a statement on BBC after receiving backlash for attending the World Cup, given Qatar's laws on homosexuality and treatment of migrant workers.
"I totally understand their reasons as well as a whole heap of fans from around the world from the LGBTQ+ community not wanting to travel here."
"I'm here because I love my job and, when I think about it, sitting here and having the harder conversations: we're talking about the migrant workers, LGBTQ+ community, we're talking about women's rights."
"You think about four years ago, I was the first female pundit for the BBC at a World Cup. You think how far we've moved in four years."
"Let's hope, in the next four years, we're never having to have these conversations again."
Keep spreading the love, Alex.