Out Soccer Star Josh Cavallo Calls Out Social Media Platforms for Trolls' Homophobic Abuse

Out Aussie soccer star Josh Cavallo spoke out about the unrelenting anti-gay messages trolls bombard him with on social media, and challenged platforms to "do better" at restricting hate speech.

Taking to Instagram on Dec. 17, Cavallo posted a string of photos, starting with a snap of himself in action on the pitch. But he also issued a warning about the content of the next image, which was a smorgasbord of hatred in which trolls littered their nearly unintelligible posts with the F-bomb and posted in broken English that Cavallo should "Go to the Hell" and that sports are for "real men" – evidently with no appreciation for either the champion's talents nor his courage in coming out as a public figure.

Unbowed by the unhinged volleys of hate, Cavallo gently tendered his apologies for the venomous cruelty of those targeting him, and, with calm compassion, reminded his fans to "read with caution and contact any life line or support network if you may feel triggered in any way."

(Note: The second slide in the embedded group shows a number of disturbing messages that some readers may find triggering. Please approach these toxic outpourings with caution.)

Then the top-flight soccer star got down to it.

"I share my life via this social media platform to help individuals grow around the world," he wrote. "To feel empowered in their own skin. To be comfortable with the person they wish to be. I'm hand on heart so proud of how much my football club and the LGBTQIA+ community have grown in the world of football but we have to remember there is still a huge amount of work left."

"We are in 2023 and this behavior can be more harmful than you think," Cavallo added. "Two years on from my coming out journey and I go through my everyday life being reminded how people wish me dead."

Rather than waste time pushing back against trolls, Cavallo laid responsibility at the feet of those who enable their vicious malice.

"To all you social media platforms, all I have to say to you is do better," the 24-year-old midfielder, who plays for Adelaide, posted.

"The threats come just three weeks after Cavallo issued another message regarding the abuse he receives," noted UK tabloid the Mirror. "The midfielder, who recently returned from a ruptured ACL, admitted the abuse and the significant injury had made it a difficult year."

In that message, Cavallo decried the "countless and endless death threats aimed to my everyday life and sexuality due to my football absence."

"I will never doubt the person I have become and WILL continue to wear who I am proud on my sleeves," the athlete added. "I hope no one's son or daughter will ever have to go through this experience. It is beyond vile."

Cavallo went on to add: "It's so sad there is no one to hold these people accountable. I invest, and I invest a lot in preventing structures and education against homophobia. For my own generation to the next to not excuse this behavior."

"These people need to be criminally punished too," he said.

As previously reported, Cavallo also spoke out last year after being the target of homophobic abuse from the stands.

"I'm not going to pretend that I didn't see or hear the homophobic abuse at the game last night," said Cavallo posted after the display of anti-LGBTQ+ hate at a playing field in Melbourne on Jan. 8, 2022. "There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was. As a society this shows we still face these problems in 2022."