Alex Scott feels "so grateful" for trolls' cruel comments after they pushed her into therapy.
Alex Scott
The retired footballer-turned-TV pundit has opened up on how she first turned to drink after sinking into depression over the abuse, but she has since learned to "process it all".
She said: "I love my job but it was all the stuff that was coming with it. Then my personality began to change.
"I was going into myself, I was drinking, I was depressed. And then I went into therapy and learned skills like how to process it all, talk about my feelings.
“Not just about TV but I learned about myself and life. Those bloody trolls pushed me into therapy and I am so grateful for it for pushing me on.”
The former England star felt as though she "had no one" to turn to amid the abuse.
She added: "I was getting death threats and rape threats and I live on my own. I had no one to speak to.
“I did not want my mum to worry or people think I would not handle the business.”
The 32-year-old presenter - who is said to be among the frontrunners to take over as the next host of 'A Question of Sport' - also dismissed the suggestion her TV roles are the result of "box-ticking".
Speaking on Clara Amfo's 'This City' podcast, she said: "The amount of things [said] like I am ‘ticking a box’ because I am female or because I am black.
“It is just called working hard and it is not an overnight success. It is deserving of your place to be there.
“I am not apologising for someone who worked hard. I want kids to believe there are opportunities to go and get them.”