Goalkeeper Mary Earps has openly declared that her recently published personal story was never intended to “tear anyone down” and expressed concern that media response has been “misrepresented.”
Controversial Comments and Supporters’ Disapproval
The ex-Lionesses player, who played a key role in the tournament success, faced backlash from supporters and Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor after commenting about past Lioness Hannah Hampton and manager Sarina Wiegman.
In her autobiography, Earps allegedly stated told Wiegman she was “supporting poor attitude” by reinstating Hampton to the Lionesses lineup after dropping her for being “problematic and undependable.”
“It’s been really overwhelming to see how parts were misrepresented,” Earps shared in an interview.
Explaining Her Motives
Earps clearly stated that the autobiography was never intended to hurt others.
- “This book wasn’t written to tear anyone down in any shape or form.”
- “That doesn’t reflect my character as a human being.”
- “These are real events. It has implications. It is not a show.”
She also commented on how the women’s game has entered a space that has become “almost like performance,” where personal lives are scrutinized heavily for audience entertainment.
Dynamic with the Manager
Earps mentioned losing the starting position as England’s number one before the European Championship and how that strained her relationship with Wiegman.
She clarified it was “not an abrupt downfall” in their connection—just a divergence in opinions—and she maintains respect for the manager.
“There were things that took place at that time that I hoped had unfolded otherwise,” Earps remarked.
Individual Difficulties
In the autobiography, Earps opened up about the bullying she suffered at in her younger years, describing it as a “extremely difficult” part to go back to because it reawakened past pain.
- “I couldn’t assert myself in those days.”
- “I just assumed that people disapproved of me for most of my life.”
- “I became accustomed to feel like no one truly cared.”
These sentiments led to stress outbreaks, and Earps revealed she faced challenges with physical appearance and turned to alcohol during the global health crisis to manage mental health struggles.
Personal Life and Future Plans
Earps recently shared that she is in a same-sex relationship and shared her happiness about her partnership.
She also talked about her hopes for motherhood and revealed she has frozen her eggs for future use.
“I deeply desire to be a parent and have a family of my own,” Earps commented. “I enjoy my football career, but I hope to have a child at a later stage.”
Earps described the egg-freezing procedure as “crazy and invasive” and advocated for more investigation tailored to athletes undergoing comparable treatments.
Throughout the interview, Earps reiterated that she has no feelings of remorse about her professional journey or personal choices, emphasizing that she always proceeded with principle.
