Four-time All-Ireland winner and RTÉ hurling pundit Ursula Jacob released a statement last night following a hatchet piece about her that appeared on the Benchwarmers website at the weekend.
The statement was tweeted along with the words 'Enough is enough' and included screengrabs of a post from the GAA Craic social media account, which is owned and operated by Benchwarmers.
Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/PB8YzgMdIt
— Ursula Jacob (@ursulajacob) July 4, 2022
Jacob wrote:
Usually I never entertain and give keyboard warriors an ounce of time or thought but sometimes enough is enough and standing up for yourself is more important than constantly just putting up with nasty, tasteless comments from faceless cowards.
The Oulart-the-Ballagh woman is one of the most decorated players in camogie, and also boasts a distinctive Wexford accent (as she says in her statement "I am a proud female and proud Wexford woman, who just happens to have a Wexford accent too. Shock horror!")
Jacob was part of RTÉ punditry team for the Kilkenny vs Clare All-Ireland hurling semi-final at the weekend along with Jackie Tyrell and Anthony Daly.
An article was written about her titled "Ursula Jacob Comes in for Hammering on The Sunday Game Panel" was published Sunday morning. It consists of one tweet and two Facebook comments complaining about Jacob, and seems to exist to stoke negative comments on social media.
Backlash against Ursula Jacob article
There has been a backlash to the comments on Facebook. Under the post on Jacob are comments like:
I can tell you if I were down in the trenches Ursula Jacob would be the type of character I’d like to have beside me. A woman who can talk the talk because she has walked the walk. An incisive knowledge of the game that she picked up from winning at every level and she didn’t lick it off the street either! She’s been an observer of hurling brilliance since before she could walk! This type of gutter bar stool tripe needs to be called out for what it is - an attempt to undermine a woman through pure misogyny. Long may her glorious Wexford accent accompanied by her informed punditry grace our airwaves.
As well as:
I’ve met Ursula at matches over the years, she was brought up on the game in a GAA steeped family, this before she was ever on RTE. She’s doing a better job than the bulk of panelists on Sky RTE and others. Ignore the bully boys and keep up the good work Ursula.
The website published a similar hit piece about Joanne Cantwell was published two weeks ago.
Jacob issued an appeal to men on social media "to think before they type".
I’m not into tokenism or making up numbers. I am there because I have a voice and can give an informed and educated opinion.
Lucky for me I am a strong woman who has a brilliant support network who always have my back and are super proud of me but I would seriously encourage anyone who thinks about writing something nasty, tasteless or personal about anyone on a social media platform to think before you type.
At least I am brave enough to stand by my opinion on national TV whereas some faceless coward has to hide behind a keyboard to try promote nothing but pure nastiness and bullying.
But as my wise mother has always said to me ‘if they’re talking about you, they must be worried about you!’
Head of Sport at RTÉ Declan McBennett tweeted his support of Jacob, saying she has the "credibility, an informed opinion & ability to articulate that opinion".
From an @RTEsport perspective Ursula was a brilliant player & is an excellent pundit. She is on our @TheSundayGame panels because she has the credibility, an informed opinion & ability to articulate that opinion. We support her unequivocally & utterly condemn personal abuse. https://t.co/4H9zMdL2bD
— Declan McBennettRTE (@RTEmcbennettd) July 4, 2022
Benchwarmers published a kind of apology this morning for the article, which pushes responsibility for the comments on the website's readers, not the website itself:
"We apologise to Ursula or any of the pundits on RTE that we might have offended by reposting comments and opinions online that might have been negative to any of the RTE panel."
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