"Oberdorf speaks out against internet harassment"
Lena Oberdorf opted not to travel internationally due to being a "home-lover." Her relocation from VfL Wolfsburg to FC Bayern brought on internet backlash, with numerous comments transitioning into vicious hate messages. Now, the German international is standing up for herself against these online attacks.
German global Lena Oberdorf is taking matters into her own hands, responding to online hate speech. "If you use social media as a professional athlete, you need to anticipate this. The level of respect is woefully low due to anonymity and a lack of personal connection," Oberdorf commented in an interview with "Wolfsburger Allgemeine". "I can tolerate a lot, but sometimes I speak up to draw boundaries - for my own well-being as well."
Upon revealing her move from VfL Wolfsburg to FC Bayern Munich during the summer, Oberdorf faced increased media exposure. One reason for this was a statement she made as a Schalke supporter prior to Euro 2022: "I can't imagine joining Bayern."
"As a little homebody"
"When I read comments like 'You act like a coward' or something comparable on Instagram, I find it silly, but then I also think: Perhaps I'd see it the same way if I didn't know myself," Oberdorf now elaborated. "Everyone has their own opinions, and you must accept them. But when I read things like 'I hope you get injured' or even 'I hope you die,' those cross the line. We are still human beings, even if we're in the public eye."
In a recent interview, Oberdorf detailed her controversial decision to leave Wolfsburg for their long-term foes in Munich for the first time. "The first half of the season had given me the sense that I required a change of environment. I was somewhat caught in a rut: soccer, soccer, soccer," explained the 2022 European Championship runner-up. "That's when I called my dad and said, 'Dad, I believe I need a shift in scenery.'" Enraptured by urban living, she desired a bigger metropolis after living only in smaller communities: "As a little homebody, I didn't want to leave Germany."
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Lena Oberdorf's decision to join FC Bayern Munich from VfL Wolfsburg (Women) led to an influx of hate comments, including messages wishing her harm. In response, Oberdorf has been vocal about addressing online discrimination, stating, "When I read things like 'I hope you get injured' or even 'I hope you die,' those cross the line." Despite facing criticism for her move, she remains committed to urban living, having grown up in smaller communities.
Source: www.ntv.de
