Popular golf influencer Paige Spiranac has revealed the shocking extent of online abuse she received following a controversial moment during the recent Internet Invitational tournament. The 32-year-old former college golf star found herself at the center of a massive social media storm after the event aired on YouTube earlier this month.
The Controversial Incident That Sparked Outrage
The Internet Invitational, organized by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports, featured an impressive $1 million prize and attracted over 20 million views across six episodes. Despite her team losing the final match, Spiranac became the target of widespread accusations after cameras captured her tamping down grass in front of a ball - a move that violates standard golf rules.
The controversy, now being called "Slopegate" by some golf enthusiasts, quickly exploded across social media platforms. What began as criticism of the rule violation escalated into what Spiranac describes as the worst online hate she has experienced in her ten-year career.
Death Threats and Emotional Toll
In an emotional Instagram Q&A session, Spiranac detailed the severe backlash that followed the tournament. "The last week and a half has been probably the worst hate I've ever received in the ten years of me doing this," the Colorado native confessed.
She revealed the disturbing scale of the abuse: "I'm talking tens of thousands of death threats, people telling me to kill myself, the most vile, horrendous stuff you could ever say to an individual. That's been in my DMs to the point where we were discussing me having to potentially get a restraining order."
Despite fellow competitors assuring her that the action was unintentional, Spiranac faced relentless online criticism. "I am painfully embarrassed that I did not know this rule, but I would never intentionally cheat," she emphasized, noting that throughout her entire career, she had never previously been accused of cheating.
Mental Health Break and Moving Forward
The overwhelming abuse forced Spiranac to take a break from social media to protect her mental wellbeing. "I just needed to remove myself for my mental health," she explained, revealing her personal struggle with wanting to be liked and accepted.
"One thing that I really struggle with is wanting to be liked and accepted, and I don't want anyone to ever dislike me. I always try to do everything I can to have people like me. It's just hard for me as a person with how I process things," Spiranac shared.
The golf influencer expressed gratitude for her support system during this challenging time. "Luckily, having a good support system, family around, and just trying to stay distracted made it a little easier to get through this," she said.
While the Internet Invitational incident continues to be discussed in golf circles, Spiranac is focused on learning from the experience and moving forward with her career, though the emotional scars from the intense online harassment will likely take longer to heal.
