Sports activities presenter Laura Woods has clashed with former Sky Sports activities colleague Richard Keys on-line.
Laura Woods has instructed Richard Keys exactly what she thinks of him (Picture: Carl Recine, Getty Photographs) This text incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
Sports activities presenter Laura Woods has clashed with Richard Keys following his misjudged tribute to the late Terry Yorath. The Wales legend’s demise at age 75 was confirmed on Thursday after a short sickness.
His daughter, BBC stalwart Gabby Logan, has to desert Wednesday’s Match of the Day broadcast to take care of the household emergency. But former Sky Sports activities presenter Keys considerably misjudged his try at expressing his condolences. Woods wasted no time in difficult him, nevertheless, and brazenly expressed her views in specific method. This is not her first on-line rodeo both, having delivered quite a few sharp on-line rebukes through the years.
Whereas most managed to supply Logan their sympathies with out making it about themselves in such a fragile state of affairs, Keys could not fairly resist. In recounting anecdotal proof of his relationship with the late Yorath, he seemingly included a refined jab at his mourning daughter.
“Unhappy to listen to the information of Terry Yorath’s passing. He was a warrior and gained followers over wherever he performed,” he wrote. “He was nice for us at Coventry and the rationale I obtained Gabby a job at Sky. I had no concept who she was after we met, however I knew her dad. RIP Terry. Your daughter did you proud.”
Woods promptly took exception to these feedback. Notably, she criticised her fellow Sky Sports activities alumnus for feeling compelled to say securing Logan employment whereas honouring her deceased father.
“Sorry… however what a t**t,” wrote Woods. “Mentioned with zero shock. Additionally wish to add my respects to the 1000’s of others who’re exhibiting theirs compassionately to a a lot beloved broadcaster and her household. Sending all my love x.”
This is not the primary time Keys has talked about his function in securing Gabby a place at Sky. Logan subsequently shared her perspective on her former colleague, describing him as a “merciless dinosaur” in her 2022 autobiography, prompting Keys to reply with a prolonged 1,000-word rebuttal.
He maintained his Yorath tribute was “fully misinterpreted,” though the amount of backlash suggests he bears duty for clumsy phrasing at minimal.
Sorry…however what a tw*t. Mentioned with zero shock. https://t.co/3gCKKY7bbU
— Laura Woods (@laura_woodsy) January 8, 2026
‘Worst presenter’ response
Nicely-versed in silencing her critics by sharp wit, Woods finds some detractors make her job remarkably easy. She swatted away on-line trolls with a succession of razor-sharp responses in early 2024.
An X person named Darren Smithers focused Woods by branding her “the worst presenter” in sport. Nonetheless, Woods dismissed the comment with a playful riposte.
“Factually incorrect, Dazzlaaaa,” she responded, together with {a photograph} of herself clutching her Sports activities Presenter of the Yr trophy. It is tough to dispute such credentials as Woods proudly displayed her accolade from the Broadcast Sport Awards.
Nonetheless, some continued of their criticism, with one troll claiming it “would not depend when it is rigged.” Woods fired again with one other sharp response, posting {a photograph} displaying her a number of Sports activities Presenter of the Yr accolades.
The broadcaster just lately stepped away from her skilled duties briefly after fainting throughout a reside broadcast of an England girls’s pleasant match. True to kind, Woods was again at work inside per week.
Wow ?????? Sports activities Presenter of the Yr 23’ @broadcast_sport ?????? What an honour! Thanks @itvfootbaIl for having such religion in me & to probably the most superb crew in entrance & behind the digital camera for serving to me be the most effective I could be.
Off to @SheppeyUFC now for FA Cup ?????????????????? see you at 7pm! x pic.twitter.com/24QPUcvUd6
— Laura Woods (@laura_woodsy) November 3, 2023
Demise risk controversy
Woods stated she herself grew to become the goal of backlash in 2024 following remarks she made concerning a debate surrounding gender identification. This got here after gold medallists Imane Khelif (Algeria) and Lin Yu-ting (Chinese language Taipei) confronted questions on their gender standing on their path to victory.
Each athletes have been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships following experiences they failed gender eligibility checks. Whereas they happy the necessities to take part at Paris 2024, they however confronted a torrent of on-line abuse, with one remark from Woods enough to influence many observers the place her allegiances lay.
Woods described a bit by The Telegraph, which contended the Worldwide Olympic Committee had fallen quick in its obligations by allowing the duo to compete, as a “nice article.”
Nonetheless, these two phrases resulted in an alleged torrent of demise threats and different menacing messages. The state of affairs was made extra complicated as a result of, as Woods identified, she was anticipating her son on the time.
Gold Medallist Imane Khelif grew to become a worldwide determine amid scrutiny over her gender (Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Photographs)
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“Since I replied to this text I’ve had quite a few demise threats to myself and my unborn youngster,” she wrote on X in response. “Questions by myself gender (I am pregnant so guess that clears that one up) requires my employers to sack me, threats to my residence.
“When there are discrepancies with check outcomes – which might affect the security of one other human being, in an atmosphere that above all else ought to be truthful – questions are fairly rightly going to be requested. The solutions are nonetheless unclear, in any other case this matter could be closed.”
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The Khelif and Lin instances are made extra complicated by the actual fact the World Championships, from which they have been banned, are overseen by the Russian-run IBA. Nonetheless, the IOC is in command of testing for boxing on the Olympics and solid doubt over the IBA’s findings.
In August 2024, Khelif filed a cyberbullying lawsuit in France referring to her remedy throughout that summer time’s Olympics. X proprietor Elon Musk and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling have been named among the many defendants.
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