Golf influencer Paige Spiranac found herself at the centre of an unexpected online storm, not for her performance on the green, but for a simple show of NFL fandom. Her public support for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their game against the Detroit Lions pulled intense public scrutiny back to a severe wave of online harassment she has been enduring.
NFL Loyalty Sparks Confusion and Viral Debate
Spiranac, who has often linked her support for the Steelers to her Pennsylvania roots, shared a post backing the team. However, the timing was critical, coming while she was already under intense scrutiny. The situation grew more confusing when she later posted a photo in a Detroit Lions jersey, stating she liked them too. This sent mixed signals to fans, sparking widespread debate on social media platform X, especially after the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a 29-24 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The Golf Incident That Triggered a Torrent of Abuse
The renewed focus traces back to The Internet Invitational, a creator-driven golf event by Barstool Sports with a $1 million prize pool. During the final match, cameras caught Spiranac brushing grass near a teammate's ball, which officials ruled a violation. She addressed it, stating she "did not know this rule" and emphasised she would never intentionally cheat after over a decade in the sport.
What followed was a horrifying escalation. Spiranac revealed in Instagram Stories that she received "tens of thousands of death threats" and messages encouraging self-harm. The abuse was so severe that she and her team discussed seeking a restraining order. "The last week and a half is probably the worst hate I've ever received in the ten years of me doing this," she shared, describing the experience as overwhelming.
Mental Health and the Price of Visibility
The wave of hostility forced Spiranac to step away from posting to focus on her mental health, particularly because she struggles with a desire to be liked and accepted. Fans and observers have noted that her high profile as a woman in sports media often makes her a target for disproportionate criticism and abuse that extends far beyond her professional actions. This pattern of public judgment and online trolling is not new for Spiranac, having followed her from her collegiate golf days to her current status as a major sports influencer.
The recent episode underscores a dark side of sports fandom and influencer culture, where a simple mistake or a casual post can trigger an uncontrollable avalanche of online hate, with real consequences for the individual's wellbeing.
