Joe Willock speaks out on receiving abuses and threats to his family safety after a loss to Fulham in the FA Cup.
Joe Willock demands social media tackles ‘lowlifes’ over racist posts after the midfielder was subjected to online abuse.
Joe Willock, a midfielder for Newcastle, has urged social media executives to take tough measures against the “lowlifes” who harassed him online with racial remarks. Following the Magpies’ 2-1 Premier League loss to Fulham on February 1, the 25-year-old retaliated after his club phoned the police over offensive posts directed at him and his family.
Willock, who described those responsible as “lowlifes”, told the Newcastle Chronicle: “It’s happened to me many times. It was the severity of it. That’s why I had to put it out there. If you are not only coming for my race, but threatening my family, wishing bad things on them, that’s when I have to put it out there and report it. You could actually endanger someone if you have that hatred. I had to do it.”
In an attempt to address the problem, Willock called on social media corporations to take more aggressive action against offenders. He also commended his club’s robust response to the situation and the help they have since offered.
He said: “From the club side, they gave me everything. They tried to sort it out as soon as possible – but it’s bigger than that. It has to be clamped down upon from the social media side, from the higher people in the social media companies.”