‘Fight hate with love’: Manchester United’s Geyse defiant after homophobic abuse

The Manchester United forward Geyse says she has received homophobic abuse after sharing online pictures of herself with her female partner. The Brazil international says she hopes one day everybody will be “free to love whoever they want, without fear of judgment or reprisal” after receiving the “deeply hurtful” messages.

On Sunday, the 26-year-old posted three images on Instagram, accompanied by the caption “I love you, us against the world”, plus a ring and silver love heart emoji.

On Monday, she posted on X: “Yesterday, after publicly sharing my relationship, I was the target of homophobic attacks. I would like to clarify that love, in all its forms, is something that should be respected and celebrated, regardless of gender, orientation or any other characteristic.

“These attacks, in addition to being deeply hurtful, reflect a mentality that is not in line with the values of respect and empathy that we should promote as a society. I reiterate that I will not remain silent in the face of prejudice. I will continue to live and share my life with authenticity and courage, in the hope that one day everyone will be free to love whoever they want, without fear of judgment or reprisal.

“I would like to thank everyone who sent me messages of support and affection. Together, we can fight hate with love and build a more inclusive and respectful world.”

Among the comments in response to Geyse’s Instagram post were a large number of congratulatory messages, but some accounts said they were going to unfollow her. Geyse’s X post on Monday received a flurry of supportive replies, with one user saying “love always wins” and another writing: “Thank you for your courage, Geyse! Your courage to live authentically will be a great inspiration to thousands of people.”

Geyse signed for Manchester United 12 months ago and helped the club to win their first major women’s trophy last season when they defeated Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup at Wembley. She was part of the Brazil squads for the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.