Carli Lloyd defends herself after critics call her 'tone-deaf' for sharing photo of free car amid coronavirus pandemic
Olympic gold medallist says she's not apologising for tweet showing off new car
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Your support makes all the difference.Football player Carli Lloyd is defending herself after she sparked criticism for sharing a photo of her new car amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, Lloyd tweeted a photo of a grey 2020 Volkswagen SUV with the caption: “Thank you @VW for my new ride!! Loving the new 2020 Atlas Cross Sport. Proud to be part of the #VWFamily.”
Shortly after sharing the post, the two-time Fifa World Player of the Year began to face backlash from her social media followers, who accused her of being “tone-deaf”.
“Nice. Most people can’t afford cars now. #tonedeaf,” one person tweeted.
Another said: “The timing of this tweet… seriously? Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but we’re in the midst of a global health crisis.
“Thousands of people are dying. Millions have lost their jobs. And you’re celebrating being gifted a new car? What are you thinking?”
The responses prompted Lloyd to address the criticism on Twitter, where she said she would not be apologising.
“I’m not apologising for my previous tweet,” she wrote. “For some there is always a reason to be negative. Always a reason to voice an opinion. The world is going through a sad unprecedented pandemic. It saddens me.”
The Olympic gold medallist then said it is “sad” that she has to explain herself, but that she is “choosing to be thankful”.
“Thankful for my health. For time with my husband. I am choosing to put a smile on my face despite what is going on. It has given me a new appreciation for life,” Lloyd continued.
According to the football player, who plays for the US Women's National team, she and her husband have also been affected by the pandemic “like everyone else around the world”.
“So yes, I am thankful that after a month the car arrived and appreciative of it. End. Of. Story,” Lloyd concluded.
In response to Lloyd’s tweets, many of her followers applauded her for standing up for herself.
“Don’t let them steal your joy!” one person wrote. “Anything that you can find happiness and peace in right now is good.”
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