Chelsea women’s team manager Sonia Bompastor on Tuesday condemned the anti-gay abuse that striker Sam Kerr and United States midfielder Kristie Mewis faced after they announced they are expecting a baby.
Kerr, the Australia captain, and Mewis revealed the news Monday on their respective Instagram accounts with pictures of the couple and a post that read: “Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025!” Mewis, who plays for West Ham, is pregnant.
Some users responded with anti-gay comments.
“This is just unacceptable to have these kind of comments, especially in our world in 2024,” Bompastor said at a news conference ahead of Chelsea’s game against Celtic in the Women’s Champions League. “That’s just crazy for me to understand how people can react like this.”
Bompastor added that she wants to “focus on the positives and give all my support to Sam and Kristie, tell them we are really proud. We are really happy for them. That’s great news.”
Chelsea captain Millie Bright said the team is rallying around the couple.
“We’re just really happy for them both, just seeing the joy that it brings to both of them,” Bright said. “That’s what we’re all put on Earth for, is to bring joy to one another. We’ve not got the time of day for certain comments.”
Chelsea said in a statement to Reuters that they were aware of “unacceptable and hateful homophobic comments” on various social media platforms.
“There is no place in society for any form of discrimination and we will not accept any abuse directed towards our players, staff or supporters,” a club spokesperson said.
“We are extremely proud to be a diverse, inclusive club that celebrates and welcomes people from all cultures, communities and identities.”
England women’s coach Sarina Wiegman also condemned the abuse.
“It is very, very disappointing,” England boss Wiegman told a news conference on Tuesday. “I’m really happy for them, they look really happy and I hope it all goes well.”
Kerr, who is under contract with Chelsea until 2026, is currently sidelined by a knee injury.
Mewis has made 53 appearances for the U.S.
The couple became engaged in 2023.
Information from The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.