As the fallout from the Australian cricket team’s ball tampering scandal rages on, a growing chorus of outraged fans have started attacking disgraced players’ WAGs.
Steve Smith’s fiancee Dani Willis has sadly had to wear the worst of the keyboard warriors’ fury, with some even calling for her to dump the disgraced captain.
Neither Steve, 28, nor his 27-year-old lawyer fiancée, have shared social media posts since the Australian team were caught red-handed, but that hasn’t stopped critics harassing them..
Is the wedding still on? Steve Smith’s cricket cheating scandal raises doubts about his future with fiancée Dani Willis months after whirlwind proposal in New York… as fans urge her to ‘dump him’
Steve, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft – who have confessed to masterminding the tampering scheme – were sent home from South Africa in disgrace this week.
All three received lengthy bans for cheating during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
Steve’s 12-month ban wasn’t enough for some fans, who have turned both his and Dani’s Instagram comments section into a vile hate-post breeding ground.
One fan took to a five-day-old post to ask Dani: ‘Will you break up with Smith after what he has done?’
‘Dump him’: Neither Steve, 28, or Dani, 27, have shared social media posts since the Australian team were caught red-handed, but that hasn’t stopped critics harassing them
Another descended upon Steve’s most recent couple’s post, questioning: ‘Does she know you’re cheating?’
‘She should leave your a**!! Cheating p**ck!!’ read another comment.
Another told Steve – who broke down into tears during a press conference on Thursday night – they ‘hoped’ his bride-to-be left him.
No boundaries? Steve’s 12-month ban wasn’t enough for some fans, who have turned both his and Dani’s Instagram comment section into a vile hate-post breeding ground
More reasonable Instagram users attempted to stem the flow of hate, but messages of support were mostly lost in the crowd.
‘Dani – tell Smithy we back him through and through,’ a supporter wrote.
‘Everybody makes errors in judgement and he will return to his former glory once this settles.’
Outrage: Angry fans have turned to calling for Dani Willis to dump Steve
Other fans were fine with savaging Steve, but were baffled as to why Dani should face harassment over her partner’s actions.
‘He is a cheat. (However) I don’t agree with harassing @dani_willis. She has done nothing wrong,’ said one.
Another agreed: ‘Get stuck into him, granted, but it’s nothing to do with her!!’
Leave here alone! Other fans were fine with savaging Steve, but were baffled as to why Dani should face harassment over her partner’s actions
‘She had done nothing wrong’: An Instagram user calls for trolls to focus their efforts on Steve, and to leave Dani alone
Last Saturday, on the third day of the test, Australian player Cameron was caught by stadium cameras, stuffing what appeared to be yellow tape down his pants.
Former vice-captain David has been charged with devising the plot, which saw Cameron roughing the ball with what was later confirmed to be sandpaper.
When the two on-field umpires, Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong of England, questioned Cameron at the time, he produced a black sunglasses bag from his right pocket in way of explanation, in a bid to deceive the officials.
Caught out: Last Saturday, on the third day of the test, Australian player Cameron Bancroft was caught by stadium cameras, stuffing what appeared to be yellow tape down his pants
Mastermind: Former vice-captain David has been charged with devising the plot, which saw Cameron roughing the ball with what was later confirmed to be sandpaper
‘Once I was sighted on the big screens I panicked quite a lot and that resulted in me shoving it down my trousers,’ said Cameron of the sandpaper.
Steve and David were banned from the game for twelve months, while Cameron received a nine-month ban.
Steve and Dani were engaged following a whirlwind proposal in New York in June last year – they have been dating since 2011.
The couple have not publicly addressed questions surrounding the future of their engagement.
However on Thursday, Steve expressed deep regrets about the cheating scandal during a press conference in Sydney.
‘Good people make mistakes and I’ve made a big mistake by allowing this to happen,’ he said.
‘It was a huge error of judgement on my behalf and I’m deeply sorry.’
BANNED: Steve and David were banned from the game for twelve months, while Cameron received a nine-month ban
Wedding woes? Steve and Dani were engaged following a whirlwind proposal in New York in June last year – they have been dating since 2011