Tweeters named and shamed over attacks on Bartoli

As Marion Bartoli powered to victory in straight sets in the Wimbledon final on Saturday, thousands took to social networking sites to praise how she was comprehensively defeating her opponent.

But at the same time keyboard trolls were going on the likes of Twitter not to comment on her sporting prowess but to direct hate- filled jibes at her for no reason other than her looks.

Guy old enough to use Twitter & speak English thought we should know this of 2013 Women’s Singles Wimbledon champion pic.twitter.com/dg2ntzCRxC

— Tauriq Moosa (@tauriqmoosa) July 8, 2013

The aftermath of her comprehensive defeat of Sabine Lisiki was marred for some by BBC commentator John Inverdale’s ill-judged comments about her appearance. He issued an apology within 24 hours and when his remarks were put to the French woman she graciously brushed them off saying: “It doesn’t matter, honestly... I am not blonde, yes. Have I dreamt about having a model contract? No. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely.”

However, the Inverdale comment — that she was “never going to be a looker” — paled into significance compared to the vitriolic tirade launched against her even before John Inverdale’s cack-handed commentary.

“Someone as ugly and unattractive as Bartoli doesn’t deserve to win” and “Bartoli looks like she’s a cross between man and ape #notaWimbledonBabe” were among the cleaner insults directed at the unsuspecting tennis player. They descended further into the gutter with people posting “Feeling for the trophy presenters who had to exchange kisses with the fat ugly pig Bartoli” and “Bartoli you fat lesbian looking lump of shit, you let Lisicki win now god damn it [sic]”.

There were numerous comments, including some from female posters, saying Bartoli looked like a man. One woman wrote: “Bartoli oughtta wear a longer dress i can see her penis” and another pitched in with “Bartoli is auch [sic] an arragant [sic] disrespectful whore! I really don’t like her”.

Bartoli managed to incite so much hatred in someone she had never met that he posted: “Really hate that Bartoli, would love to smash the wee fat cow. Irritating me!!”

A large selection of the comments have now been captured on the website, Public Shaming, with those who posted them being named and shamed and being widely criticised across the social networking sphere for their vitriol.