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Alex Scott has been targeted by ‘hideous trolls’ on social media after it was suggested that he would be in the running to replace Sue Barker on A Question Of Sport.
The 35-year-old former England and Arsenal footballer was rumored to have secured the concert on Wednesday after Sue, 64, was fired as host after 24 years.
Now Alex, who is of Irish and Jamaican descent, has received thousands of racist comments online.
Online abuse: Alex Scott has been the target of ‘horrible trolls’ on social media after it was said he was in the race to replace presenter Sue Barker on A Question Of Sport
Much of the abuse Alex Scott received suggested that he is only in pole position for work due to the color of his skin.
Much of the abuse suggested that Alex is only in first position for the job due to the color of his skin.
One said, ‘Wow, I see you got the job that Sue Barker has done so well for so many years. Obviously due to your presentation skills. Nothing else. No PC. Nothing about having token black people on the BBC. You must be very proud.’
Another wrote: “It will fail … black and charmless.”
A third added: ‘What’s the obsession with her? She is absolutely authentic … just because she is a black woman #positive discrimination ‘
One source called the comments “disgusting” as reports suggest that the star has been contacted by a troll-hunting company, Defuse Global, after being bombarded with messages.
The source added: ‘What should be a really exciting time for Alex has been marred by these hideous trolls.
“Thousands of people have supported me, but they are the negatives that Alex will remember. She’s only human. ‘
They added: ‘It’s ridiculous that racism still exists these days and that people can be so nasty.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Alex and the BBC for comment.
End of an era: Sue, 64, has been kicked out of the BBC program, along with team captains Matt Dawson (left) and Phil Tufnell (right), and Alex has received many suggestions to replace her.
Alex He has previously spoken about being the target of trolls and has spoken candidly about how he asked for help in the past.
In a conversation with Watford captain Troy Deeney as part of the Heads Up campaign focused on mental health, the star revealed how much online trolling affected her.
On screen: Alex has received thousands of ‘disgusting’ messages since his name was linked to the sports show (pictured during a previous appearance on A Question Of Sport in 2016)
“ When I retired, being trolled, I found that I was drinking again to try to hide everything, to hide what I was feeling, ” she said.
‘I didn’t tell anyone, I didn’t tell my mom because I didn’t want her to worry or put that stress on her. I was just that person (who thought) ‘I can take care of myself, I can deal with things’, but obviously sometimes that’s the wrong way.
I came to a dark place and it was at Christmas, that’s when I thought ‘I can’t go on like this, it’s not me, I need to seek help’ and that led me to therapy.
‘I want to remove that stigma. Now when I talk about mental health, I immediately smile because I know what has made me leave that place. I am happy. I am happy and I have used the tools I learned to be in that place. ‘
It comes after Gary Lineker caused a furor when he tweeted that Alex had been confirmed as Sue Barker’s replacement, leaving the BBC forced to deny the appointment had been made.
Family: Alex, pictured with his mother, Carol in March 2019, is of Irish and Jamaican descent.
The 59-year-old BBC expert wrote on Twitter on Thursday: ‘Congratulations and good luck to @AlexScott on being the new host of Question Of Sport.
‘Smart, knowledgeable and perfectly qualified for the position. Oh … and if you have a problem with Alex getting the job, you may be part of the problem. ‘
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: “This is all speculation and no talks have been made about the future line-up.”
Alex, a former Strictly contestant, is rumored to become Sue’s replacement after she was fired as host after 24 years, along with team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell earlier this week.
Alex is of Irish and Jamaican descent, and Gary’s wording on his appointment also appeared to infuriate the masses when he was accused of “ inciting people to argue about race. ”
Congratulations and good luck: Gary was charged with ‘racing harassment’ after he prematurely confirmed the news on Twitter and called anyone who had a problem with the decision.
They wrote: ‘Lineker is a real racing bully, he seems to love to stir things up, I like Alex Scott, but Lineker should continue his other job as a housing officer (for anyone who is not British) #DefundTheBBC.’
What an arrogant and conceited man you are! What was the point of that last comment? No need! You are provoking people to argue.
‘If she’s the right person for the job, then good for her, there’s no need to color her. You are part of the problem! Your last comment on your tweet is part of the problem, stop starting a stupid debate!
From Gary The latest post comes days after he appeared to ignore the new BBC. the CEO’s warning to staff to remove political tweets, as it is revealed that it will not be subject to the new fairness rules.
Tone muffled: Gary was accused of ‘provoking people for an argument’ with his latest post
The outspoken Match of the Day host suggested he was relaxed by Tim Davie’s anti-bias campaign, who asked staff to monitor his social media.
He answered ‘no’ in response to suggestions that he should be ‘terrified’ of the crackdown.
As a freelance presenter, Lineker has room to express his views and has not been crippled by the BBC’s fairness code that restricts full-time employees.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘[Lineker] he is not involved in any political news or production for the BBC and as such any expression of his personal political views does not affect the impartiality of the BBC ”.
Meanwhile, a source claimed that the rumors that Alex would get the new job “have nothing to do with gender, nor is it a case of the BBC trying to wake up.”
Celebrity Reactions: TV star Richard Osman and Piers Morgan also jumped into the debate over Alex’s alleged date following Gary’s tweet.
A source told The Sun that Alex was ‘lined up’ as Sue’s replacement because he has a lot of sports knowledge and experience.
They said: ‘Like Sue, she’s a former athlete and she also has five years of broadcasting under her belt.
“This has nothing to do with gender, nor is it a case of the BBC trying to wake up.”
The source also explained how Alex had impressed BBC bosses when he appeared on the show in the past.
The BBC has failed to meet its 2020 target for Black, Asian and Ethics Minority (BAME) leaders, they admitted Tuesday.
At a briefing to outline its annual report, new CEO Tim Davie told reporters the organization needs to “improve diversity.”
The BBC released a report in 2018, which committed to a BAME leadership target of 15% by 2020.
They committed to appointing at least two BAME members in each senior leadership group by the end of 2020.
Career: Alex previously played for England and Arsenal before becoming a successful TV host (pictured from 2017)
