Chelsea's captain, Millie Bright, and manager, Sonia Bompastor, have strongly condemned the homophobic abuse directed at Sam Kerr, following the announcement by the Chelsea striker and her partner, West Ham’s Kristie Mewis, that they are expecting a baby. Kerr, the Australia captain, and Mewis, a USA international, shared images of Mewis’s baby bump, but Chelsea swiftly issued a statement denouncing the “unacceptable and hateful” comments that surfaced in the post's comments section, which had to be disabled by Kerr.
Bright expressed her dismay, saying: “If I wasn’t a footballer, I’d quit social media immediately, as it can be both a blessing and a curse. The negativity often overshadows the positives. There should be no place in this world for such comments or behavior. I completely oppose it and believe it should not be tolerated.
“Social media can be either the best or the worst thing. It’s unfortunate because it should be a platform for sharing memories and life’s joys. Let’s hope we can move forward and create a better environment on social media, filled with positive comments.” Bright humorously anticipated seeing Kerr’s and Mewis’s baby “doing backflips,” referencing Kerr’s acrobatic goal celebrations, and added: “We’re genuinely happy for them both. Seeing the joy it brings to both of them, I believe that’s our purpose in life—to bring joy to one another. We have no time for certain comments. Our focus is on spreading happiness and supporting each other, regardless of individual circumstances. This is a core value of our club and our personal beliefs.”
Bompastor, speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League match against Celtic, where the team aims to maintain their perfect winning record, stated: “I want to fully support Sam. These comments are unacceptable, especially in 2024. It’s hard for me to comprehend how people can react this way.
“However, I choose to focus on the positives and offer all my support to Sam and Kristie. We are incredibly proud and happy for them. As a mother, the opportunity to become a parent is the best news one can receive, so I want to concentrate on that.”
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