Latest news with #KateBrigginshaw
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flood of support after Queensland legend and wife targeted by 'disgusting' act
Footy fans and players are sending messages of support to Ali Brigginhsaw and her family after wife Kate revealed some of the sickening abuse she's been receiving on social media. Brigginshaw is a legend of women's rugby league having won the NRLW competition with the Brisbane Broncos, State of Origin series with Queensland and World Cups with the Jillaroos. She's played 33 games for the Broncos, 25 Tests for Australia and 11 Origin games for the Maroons, leading them to glory in last year's series. However she's been below her best this year and couldn't prevent the Blues from winning the 2025 series in two games. After playing in the halves in the first two games, Queensland have shifted Briggingshaw to lock for the third. That pushes utility Lauren Brown into the halves to partner Tarryn Aiken for Game 3 in Newcastle, with the Maroons desperate to salvage some pride. Brigginshaw's move to lock comes after she feared she'd played her last Origin game. And as well as enduring an uncharacteristic patch of poor form, Brigginshaw has also been dealing with some vile abuse on social media. The 35-year-old's wife Kate took to social media on Thursday to condemn the awful treatment. "Mental health affects everyone, in particular athletes," wrote Kate, who has been married to Ali since 2021. "Anyone in the public eye is aware they open themselves up to opinion and scrutiny, however there is a fine line between a reasonable comment/DM (direct message) and what is honestly far beyond anything even remotely reasonable, which is what Ali and our family have been subjected to for the last month." Shockingly, Kate revealed what some of the messages have been about. "Bashing people on social media isn't cool," she continued. "You think you're showing something bad about someone else when you're really showing something bad about yourself. Normal people don't go around vomiting hate about individuals they know absolutely nothing about, or send derogatory, sexist or cruel DMs encouraging someone to kill themselves. "Ironically, the same people showing support for MH (mental health) awareness and 'it ain't weak to speak' are the same people leaving comments and sending those disgusting DMs. It is incredibly damaging and dangerous and I seriously encourage all those who do participate to think before leaving a comment or sending a DM about whether they would say those things to someone they loved." RELATED: Fresh calls for NRL action after Bulldogs robbed by 'deadset farce' New blow for Tigers as 'popular' figure set to follow Lachie Galvin out Ali was in tears after the second game of the Origin series earlier this month, which the Blues won 26-6 to win back the shield. Fans and fellow players sent a flood of messages in support of the Brigginshaw family after Kate's post. One person wrote online: "It's one thing to comment about her playing ability or career moves. It's a totally different thing to comment on her personal life or her as a person. That goes for any human on the planet. Ali has done more for international women's sport than any bloke in this comment section who probably have daughters that see her as a role model." Another commented: "You could not meet a nicer person than Ali Brigginshaw. A true Queenslander, one who should be respected and not abused by cowards."
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ali and Kate Brigginshaw: Footy star's wife reveals trolls have told her to kill herself as Aussie sport reels from a string of tragedies
The wife of Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons star Ali Brigginshaw has spoken out after weeks of abuse targeting her family in a deeply emotional Instagram post. Kate Brigginshaw revealed the couple has received a stream of hate messages, including some that told them to take their own lives. 'I wasn't going to comment or say anything,' she wrote. 'But with so much chat around the importance of mental health at the moment, I thought it was time I speak.' Kate said their family has faced a wave of sexist, cruel and disturbing online abuse for more than a month. She called out the hypocrisy of people who post mental health awareness messages while privately sending hateful and harmful messages. 'Mental health affects everyone, in particular athletes,' she wrote. Kate posted this letter to social media platform Instagram in a bid to stop trolls from targeting them 'There is a fine line between a reasonable comment and what Ali and our family have been subjected to.' Her message comes just days after the Brisbane Broncos launched a mental health jersey initiative. It also follows Queensland's Origin series defeat and mounting pressure on players ahead of game three. Ali Brigginshaw, who captained the Maroons, appeared emotional after Origin II in Sydney, fearing she may have played her final game in the jersey. Despite this, she's been named to start at lock in Newcastle. Kate's post was a direct plea for compassion. 'Bashing people on social media isn't cool,' she said. 'You're not exposing someone else - you're exposing something ugly in yourself,' she wrote. 'Normal people don't vomit hate at individuals they don't know or send DMs telling them to kill themselves. It is incredibly damaging and dangerous.' There have been calls for Brigginshaw to stand down and let a younger star play, but despite that she has been named at lock for the dead-rubber third game in Newcastle Kate urged anyone who engages in online abuse to reflect. 'Would you say it to someone you love? I guarantee the answer is no.' The timing of her post has heightened public discussion about mental health in sport. It comes amid a string of tragedies involving high-profile Australian athletes. Last week, the AFL community was rocked by the death of West Coast Eagles premiership-winning champion Adam Selwood at age 41. His passing came just three months after his twin brother, Troy Selwood, died by suicide at 40. Adam had been fundraising for the mental health charity zero2hero in Troy's honour. Also in February, West Coast premiership hero Adam Hunter died suddenly at home in Bunbury. He was 43. In March, 19-year-old triathlete Audrey Griffin was found dead in Erina Creek near Gosford. She was widely loved in the Central Coast sports community. Snowboarding icon Luke Trembath, known as 'The Dingo', passed away at 38. He was remembered for his charisma and youth mentorship. Women's sport has also faced other challenges. NSW Origin winger Jaime Chapman is the subject of a police investigation after fake AI-generated images were spread online. It came just months after the tragic death of his twin brother Troy Selwood who was laid to rest by his three brothers earlier this year NSW Police are reportedly confident of identifying the perpetrator, but the damage to Chapman's reputation and mental health is already done. Kate Brigginshaw has called for a cultural shift. 'Please consider this the next time you leave that comment,' she wrote. 'Please remember these athletes are people too.' Ali Brigginshaw, often labelled the toughest woman in rugby league, has long been a pioneer. Raised in Ipswich, she's captained Queensland, Brisbane, and the Australian Jillaroos, leading teams to multiple titles since 2018. Ali and Kate first met in 2009 but didn't connect until years later. Kate initially found Ali intimidating. 'She thought I was a b**ch because I never spoke to her,' Ali once said. 'But I was just so intimidated by her looks.' They went public with their relationship in 2018 and married in a private ceremony after getting engaged in 2019. Kate brought two children, Addison and Alfie, into the relationship – a role Ali embraced with love. 'I always knew I wanted to be a mum,' Ali has said. 'Being with Kate and the kids has been a dream come true.' Kate recently paid tribute to Ali on Mother's Day. 'Being a step parent is often thankless, but Ali hasn't missed a beat,' she wrote. 'Our family isn't defined by blood – it's defined by love.' As the sporting world continues to reckon with mental health and online abuse, Kate's message offers a reminder of what's at stake. 'We're all human. Think before you type. It might just save a life.'
