'Should be ashamed': Jelena Dokic's fury over disgusting fan taunts
Jelena Dokic has issued a powerful statement about her weight on social media, lashing out at trolls who have sent her disgusting taunts.
The retired Aussie tennis player has been back on our TV screens over the last two weeks, commentating for Channel Nine at the Australian Open.
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But unfortunately for Dokic the extra exposure has resulted in some unwanted attention from fans.
The 37-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to call for trolls to leave her alone after some ugly comments about her weight gain in recent months.
Sharing a side-by-side photo of her figure post and pre-COVID, Dokic called for everyone to "get over it".
“I am sharing this with you all because even though I have the best supporters in the world that send me thousands of messages of support, I have also received a few comments body shaming me and seen an article in the media about my weight and physical appearance,” Dokic wrote.
“I have always been honest with you all about my struggles and my weight battles. I have talked about my weight and not a lot of people have done that publicly.
“Now I am also going to be honest but I also feel like I need to address the negative attention around what people think I should look like.
“And here is my message to you, GET OVER IT.
“Leave me and my physical appearance alone. I really don’t know why people and the media have the need to comment on someone’s physical appearance, especially when it comes to women. You would never talk like that about a man, it’s always about women and their appearance.
“While I am nowhere near my heaviest, I am also completely honest about the fact that I have put some weight back on in the Melbourne lockdown. It was very hard mentally for me in the world’s toughest lockdown for six months and not being able to see my loved ones for 15 months."
Jelena Dokic lashes out at body shamers
Dokic said those criticising her body "should be ashamed".
“I have even had some depression and anxiety creep back up and it’s been a battle," she continued.
“To all the body-shamers, online trolls and the media that have body shamed me, you should be ashamed of yourselves. If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
“How about a bit of kindness? How about a message asking me how I am doing? Instead of talking about my weight, why don’t you talk about all my accomplishments? Does my weight determine my worth?
“It’s so easy to judge others but why can’t people just be kind? We should be talking about inner beauty and not the shallow outside looks.
“Also, I could be pregnant or going thru something. You never know what battle someone is fighting.
“Put yourself in the person your (sic) insulting’s shoes and what they might be going thru. Imagine if it was your mother, sister or daughter being insulted.
“In saying that, I will continue to work hard on my fitness and my health because I want to feel better and fitter. Love you all.”
A former Wimbledon semi-finalist, Dokic lost 45kg throughout 2018 and 2019 after reaching 120kg post-retirement.
“I thought I would brave the judgment, negativity and scrutiny that sometimes comes with being in the public eye and on social media and put myself and my struggles out there and hopefully inspire, motivate and help others, especially women,” she said of her weight loss at the time.
Dokic won six WTA titles throughout her 16-year professional career and reached World No.4 in 2002.
She also made the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and French Open, as well as the final of the 2001 French Open women's doubles.
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