17 July 2023 , 11:44
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Laura Woods was reprimanded by Instagram after calling one her followers a "sausage".
The presenter got involved in a social media spat after a fan criticised Arsenal's decision to sign Declan Rice from West Ham in a £105million deal. Woods, who is a Gunners fan, helped the Premier League club announce the transfer by appearing in a short video.
Woods responded to the fan by calling him a "sausage", but her comment was removed by Instagram because it goes against their guidelines on "hate speech". The former talkSPORT star was flabbergasted by her warning and shared it with her followers.
Woods is one of the most popular presenters in English football and boasts 705,000 followers on Instagram and 752,000 followers on Twitter. She is the favourite to become the new main host of Premier League and Champions League football on TNT Sports.
The row started when Woods appeared on a video to announce Rice's move to Arsenal. Speaking on a mock show called 'Transfer Talk with Laura Woods', she said: "Well, our sources are telling us that the deal to Arsenal is close, but will they get it over the line?"
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The video also features Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah, Alessia Russo, Stormzy, Gabriel Jesus, Ian Wright and ends with Rice saying: "Yes Gunners, north London is home now." Woods shared the video on her Instagram page and wrote: "He's here... and he's perfect."
Yet one of her followers replied: "Embarrassing messing about by a pathetic club who know they've deliberately unsettled a player and now want him on the cheap because they know he's another [Harry] Maguire, barely worth half what they have agreed to pay."
Woods, bemused by the comment, replied: "None of this makes any sense. Want him on the cheap? Just paid over £100m for him you sausage."
Woods became even more staggered when Instagram deleted her reply. "Your comment goes against out Community Guidelines on hate speech or symbols," read Instagram's warning. "Our guidelines encourage people to express themselves in a way that's respectful to everyone. If you think we made a mistake, you can ask us to review our decision."
Woods shared her warning and asked: "Is 'sausage' classed as hate speech these days?"
What do you make of Laura Woods' Instagram warning? Let us know in the comments below!
It's fair to assume Woods' hopes of landing the TNT Sports job haven't been dashed by her 'sausage' remark. The new TV network will launch this summer to replace BT Sport as part of a joint venture between BT and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Many of BT Sport's existing pundits, such as Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch, will be involved in TNT Sports' football coverage. Yet TNT Sports are yet to confirm who their lead football presenter will be after Jake Humphrey's departure last month.
Woods is the favourite to get that job after leaving her role as the presenter of talkSPORT's breakfast show earlier this summer. Jeff Stelling, who left his role as Soccer Saturday's host in May, is now being tipped to replace Woods at talkSPORT.