26 July 2023 , 08:54
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Emma Jones has urged people not to ignore 'uncomfortable interactions' in public after being repeatedly harassed by a stranger.
The TV host, who works for the BBC and other broadcasters, has taken to Twitter to detail an alarming encounter with a man. The stranger is "repeatedly" stopping Jones in the street and asking to take photos of her, "along with other stuff".
Jones has received dozens of messages of support on Twitter since detailing the ordeal, with some social media users urging her to contact the police. The presenter wants to use her platform to raise awareness of harassment towards women.
Jones has more than 330,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 400,000 followers on Instagram. She has become popular among fans after working for the likes of Viaplay Sports and Leeds United. She co-hosts MOTDx, a Match of the Day spin-off show.
Jones tweeted on Tuesday: "I’ve taken my puppy on the same walk near my house the last few days and the same man has repeatedly stopped me to tell me he wants to take photos of me (along with other stuff that I won’t mention here).
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"This makes women/girls feel uncomfortable and I would urge anyone who sees what looks like an uncomfortable interaction to not just ignore it and walk past. You don’t always have to intervene, but even just having the presence of someone else nearby can be reassuring."
Although Jones received plenty of support on Twitter after revealing her ordeal, some social media users responded poorly. One challenged her account by asking why she didn't tell the stranger to "jog on" and suggested she sent "the wrong message".
Jones co-hosts MOTDx (eljonesuk / Instagram)Jones replied: "I would love to [tell him to go away], but it’s not that easy when you’re alone in a situation with a stranger who’s being weird. I didn’t know what he might do, so I’d rather just get out of the situation in whichever way possible, as quickly as possible."
Like many female presenters in football, Jones often receives unpleasant and unwanted messages from trolls on social media. New TNT Sports host Laura Woods defended Jones after she received misogynistic messages for wearing a dress last September.
Jones wrote in response those disgraceful messages: "Thank you to the overwhelming majority of you who have called out the few misogynists and dinosaurs in the replies to this. Unfortunately, it's usually those people who shout the loudest. I was hosting an awards ceremony and I felt lovely in my new dress, so I wanted to share it."
In support of Jones, Woods replied: "What some people don’t get is... you're allowed to be both! You're smart and you're beautiful. One shouldn't and doesn't cancel out the other. I absolutely love seeing other people's glams, women AND men. And if you stopped posting them I'd be pretty disappointed tbh [to be honest]."