In a raw and emotional interview, Strictly Come Dancing sensation Karen Carney has opened up about the darkest chapters of her life, including suicidal thoughts triggered by relentless social media abuse. The 38-year-old former England football legend, currently dazzling audiences alongside pro dancer Carlos Gu on the BBC hit show, shared her harrowing story with The Guardian, shedding light on battles that nearly cost her everything.
Karen’s nightmare began back in 2009, shortly after signing with the Chicago Red Stars in the US. A routine knee operation sidelined her, but what followed was far from routine. Isolated and in agony, she spiraled into addiction to sleeping pills and even turned to self-harm. “I was in a pretty bad way,” she confessed. “That has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to overcome.” Her coach, Emma Hayes, saw the warning signs and insisted she return to the UK, despite a year left on her contract. “I came back purely to… save my life,” Karen admitted, crediting her friends for pulling her from the brink.
Against all odds, she turned her career around, retiring as one of England’s greatest with 144 caps for the Lionesses. She conquered four World Cups, four European Championships, and the 2012 London Olympics, etching her name in football history.
Since hanging up her boots, Karen has soared as a top pundit on TNT Sports and ITV, chaired the UK government’s groundbreaking review of women’s football in 2022, and earned an MBE in 2017 followed by an OBE in 2024. But fame came with a vicious downside: online trolls. Even during her playing days, she endured vile messages wishing her “cancer, leukaemia, and rape.”
The breaking point hit in December 2020. Commentating for Amazon Prime on Leeds United’s 5-0 thrashing of West Brom, Karen praised the team but voiced concerns they might “blow up at the end of the season,” adding that Covid had given them a promotional respite. The backlash was brutal—thousands of abusive, sexist messages flooded in, forcing her to delete her Twitter (now X) account. Fighting back tears, she revealed: “That crushed my confidence. It floored me as a human, completely floored me. I’ve never got over it. I’m more emotional about that than what I dealt with in America.”
The onslaught felt like “the whole world was caving in,” leaving her reeling from something she’d “never experienced anything like.” Yet, Karen’s passion for football remains her “greatest gift.” She’s determined to keep punditing men’s games, now hypervigilant with meticulous prep to dodge slip-ups, and she’s locked down her Instagram comments for protection.
Fast-forward to today, and Strictly has become her beacon of hope. The outpouring of positivity has left her “overwhelmed,” rebuilding her shattered confidence week by week. She gushes about Carlos: “He’s unapologetically himself, which encourages me to do my best and be myself.” This Saturday, the duo will channel that spirit in a powerful Couples Choice routine to Lady Gaga’s *Born This Way*—a fitting anthem for a woman who’s risen from the ashes. Karen’s story isn’t just one of survival; it’s a rallying cry against online hate and a testament to resilience.