‘We’re both strong willed so it doesn’t affect us’: Olympic boxer Nicola Adams reveals she and girlfriend Ella Baig face abuse from trolls for being a lesbian, interracial couple
Former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams OBE and her beauty blogger girlfriend Ella Baig have revealed they face abuse from online trolls for being in a lesbian, interracial relationship.
The sportswoman, 37, admitted that while the negative comments can be hurtful, she and her partner, 22, are not affected by the remarks as they are ‘strong willed’ during an appearance on Monday’s Loose Women.
On sharing a video online to highlight the insults, the Celebrity Gogglebox star said she wants to use her platform to ‘encourage people to be aware of what they say to others’.
There’s no stopping them: Former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams OBE and her girlfriend Ella Baig have revealed they face abuse from trolls for being in a lesbian, interracial relationship
The pair kicked off the talk show’s Pride Week by detailing their response to hate from fellow social media users.
‘We’re both really quite strong willed and comments don’t really affect us too much’, Nicola said. ‘We always ignore it [but] for a lot of people it’s hard to do that sometimes.
‘People might think we don’t experience those types of comments, but we do. Those comments do affect people – keep on fighting, don’t let it get you down!
‘Normally I just bat comments away and I won’t bother responding to them, I’ll just basically block them. But I know for some people, they’re not as strong willed as I am or as Ella is.’
‘We’re strong willed’: The sportswoman, 37, admitted she and her partner, 22, are not affected by the negative remarks during an appearance on Monday’s Loose Women
Speaking out: On sharing a video online to highlight the insults, the Celebrity Gogglebox star said she wants to use her platform to ‘encourage people to be aware of what they say to others’
Addressing their uplifting clip on combating abuse, Ella shared: ‘We got a really positive response to the video. We made it to encourage people to be aware of what they say to other people. You might think it’s a one-off comment, but it can add up.’
The make-up artist noted that a lot of the comments they receive are from people who ‘aren’t trying to be horrible’, but instead those who might say something offensive ‘unknowingly’.
But if a follower decides to cross the line, flyweight champion Nicola has no hesitation using the ‘lovely block button’.
The couple of two years have been enjoying some downtime in lockdown, an experience the Leeds native has credited for bringing them closer together.
‘I bat those comments away’: The pair kicked off the talk show’s Pride Week by detailing their response to hate from fellow social media users
‘You might think it’s a one-off comment, but it can add up’: The make-up artist noted that a lot of the comments they receive are from people who ‘aren’t trying to be horrible’
Ella enthused: ‘It’s shown us that we’re good together. It’s the most time we’ve ever spent together in the two years we’ve had together.’
Nicola was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, at the age of 15.
On managing her condition during the coronavirus pandemic, the media personality said: ‘I made myself a little schedule of what I do on a daily basis – my working out, reading, guitar lessons, I’m learning languages as well.
‘As well as spending time with Ella and my dogs as well, for me it was finding things for me to do.’
‘We’re good together’: The couple of two years have been enjoying downtime in lockdown, an experience the Leeds native has credited for bringing them closer together