Johnny Herbert, a former Formula 1 driver and sports commentator, recently spoke about the flood of death threats he received on social media after his participation as a steward during the Australian Grand Prix. The threats arose as a result of a decision that resulted in a penalty for Fernando Alonso, which generated a huge online backlash.
During the event in Melbourne, Alonso received an additional 20-second penalty after being involved in an accident with George Russell. As a member of the steward panel, Herbert became the target of intense criticism and threats from dissatisfied fans with the decision.
Herbert described the consequences of the decision as particularly severe, stating: «I was a steward at the Melbourne GP and the consequences were terrible. I received a flood of death threats on social media, but fortunately I have a strong mind. It’s pathetic that I was blamed for the decision.»
The abuse faced by Herbert was not limited to this incident, but originated from previous public exchanges with Alonso, mainly when Alonso confronted Herbert live on television. This exchange stemmed from a comment Herbert made while working for Sky, suggesting that Alonso should leave McLaren if he was unhappy with the team’s performance. Alonso’s on-air response, coupled with his status as a world champion, seemed to further fuel the animosity of his supporters towards Herbert after the penalty decision.
Herbert revealed: «There were messages with dagger emojis at the bottom of the screen, people threatening to come to my house. Most of them were Spanish.» He reflected on the intense and sometimes frightening messages he received.
A pesar del sufrimiento, Herbert permanece inquebrantable en su papel como comisionado, considerándolo parte de los desafíos que vienen con el trabajo. Sin embargo, expresó preocupación por la prevalencia de acoso dirigido a oficiales deportivos y atletas, criticando las plataformas de medios sociales por su falta de acción efectiva contra el abuso en línea. «Esto no me desanimó a ser comisionado. Desafortunadamente, es parte del trabajo», afirmó.
Las experiencias de Herbert arrojan luz sobre un tema significativo en las interacciones digitales entre los fanáticos y la seguridad personal de figuras públicas. Concluyó pidiendo medidas más estrictas contra el acoso en línea y enfatizó la necesidad de que las empresas de medios sociales asuman la responsabilidad y tomen medidas para prevenir tales abusos. Las amenazas continuas destacan una tendencia perturbadora que afecta no solo a celebridades, sino también a individuos en varios sectores que enfrentan desafíos similares.
