Pregnant former US national soccer team star Carli Lloyd has publicly responded to an online troll who body-shamed her following criticism she leveled against the US men's national team after their World Cup elimination.
Lloyd, a Fox Sports analyst, has been vocal in her commentary on the team's performance and subsequent exit from the tournament. Her remarks drew a negative reaction from some social media users, leading to an exchange on X, formerly Twitter.
On Wednesday, after Lloyd criticized US player Christian Pulisic's comment about needing a "rest" after the team's World Cup defeat, an anonymous user known as "Moonshot Magician" posted a photo of Lloyd on air. The troll's message read, "Looks like youve [sic] been resting really good lately big mama" accompanied by laughing emojis.
Lloyd quote-tweeted the post, replying, "I can tell you are a gentleman. Do you always disrespect women? Does it make you feel good hiding behind your keyboard?"
The response garnered significant attention, with millions of views and numerous supportive messages from other users. Many commended Lloyd for her handling of the situation, with some noting her status as a two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist.
The troll's comment was also community noted on X, with the annotation stating, "Carli Lloyd is pregnant with her second child."
Lloyd, 43, announced her pregnancy in April, sharing photos with her husband Brian Hollins and their daughter Harper Anne, who will turn two in October. This pregnancy follows a challenging IVF journey, as Lloyd had previously revealed two unsuccessful rounds before achieving success on their third attempt.
Lloyd concluded her storied playing career in 2021, having earned 316 caps for the US women's national team, placing her second in all-time appearances. She also ranks third in goals scored for the team. Following her retirement, she transitioned to broadcasting and is now a prominent analyst for FOX.