Eni Aluko has revealed she's fled the country in the wake of stinging comments aimed at her by Joey Barton.
Barton recently caused controversy by comparing Aluko and fellow ITV pundit Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
He also compared the duo to dictators Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, too, following an FA Cup clash between Crystal Palace and Everton earlier this month.
Barton has been widely condemned for his comments, with Gary Neville among those to criticise the former Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle star.
And Aluko has now taken to Instagram to reveal she's left England and that she's 'genuinely scared'.
She said: "I've genuinely been scared this week. I didn't leave my house until Friday and I'm now abroad.
"Online abuse has a direct impact on your safety and how you feel and how safe you feel in real life.
"I've felt under threat this week. I've felt like something is going to happen to me.
"And I don't say that for anyone to feel sorry for me - I say that for people to understand the reality and the impact that hate speech has, the impact that racism has, the impact that sexism has, the impact that misogyny has on all of us females in the game, in sports broadcasting."
Aluko also seemingly referred to Barton by adding: "If you come out and are racist, or sexist or misogynistic and threaten people online, there are laws for that, that govern that behaviour.
"There are consequences for that.
"And over the past week I've taken advice from lawyers and a course of action has now been decided upon."
Aluko then proceeded to recall the case of Caroline Flack.
Flack suffered abuse online prior to her tragic death in February 2020.
Aluko continued: "They're creating a culture where people don't want to go to work, people don't want to leave their house, people feel under threat.
"Obviously, there's a big impact on mental health as well.
"My fear, actually, is that the next time this happens, if we don't really put a stop to this, is that that girl or that woman kills herself.
"I'm not being hyperbolic about that when I say that it's happened.
"Caroline Flack, God rest her soul, killed herself, largely because of the online abuse that she was getting."
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Eni Aluko says she's left the country after Joey Barton's stinging attack on her
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ITV were quick to condemn Barton after he compared Aluko to the West killers.
They said: "For Joey Barton, an ex-professional player with a significant social media presence, to target two of our pundits, Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, with such vindictive remarks based on gender and to invoke the names of serial killers in doing so is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part. Football is for everyone."
He has continued to rant on social media, however, and insists he won't be silenced for his views.
Barton also let rip at ITV by saying: "Shut up you f****** idiots. Keep them off the tele.
"They’re ruining the game for everyone of us.
Joey Barton has refused to apologise for his controversial comments with Eni Aluko 'genuinely scared'
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"It’s what happens when you force underqualified, under prepared, tokenistic people onto us.
"I will be calling them all serial killers from now on. Every clip you f*****g put out.
"Told you, I don’t care anymore. We’ve all had enough of your ‘Woke’, ‘DEI’ b******t.
"I hope everyone who agrees with me, gets right after your social media every time you force this nonsense on us. I tried to play nice, you didn’t listen."
