Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has returned to social media after a wave of backlash erupted over footage showing her improving her playing partner’s lie during Barstool Sports’ Internet Invitational.
The tournament, which pits golf creators and online personalities against one another, became the center of online drama when cameras caught Spiranac stamping down long grass in front of partner Malosi Togisala’s ball.
Other competitors confronted her on the spot, sparking immediate debate – and eventually a massive flood of online harassment, according to the Daily Mail.
Spiranac Says She Received “Tens of Thousands” of Threats
After days of silence, Spiranac addressed the situation through multiple Instagram Stories on Tuesday, revealing the scale of hate she received.
“The last week and a half is probably the worst hate I've ever received in the ten years of me doing this,” she said. “I’m talking tens of thousands of death threats… the most vile, horrendous stuff you could ever say to an individual.”
Credit: Paige Spiranac / Instagram.
She added that the threats were so severe she and her team discussed the possibility of seeking a restraining order. Spiranac said stepping away from her millions of followers was necessary for her mental health.
“I Just Needed to Remove Myself”
Spiranac explained that the break was essential, especially given her tendency to internalize online criticism.
“One thing that I really struggle with is wanting to be liked and accepted,” she said. “I don't want anyone to ever dislike me… the situation has not been easy, but luckily I have a good support system.”
Her emotional reaction only highlighted what viewers saw in the episode itself. Confronted during the tournament, Spiranac broke down, insisting she’d been unaware her actions violated the rules.
Spiranac: “I Would Never Intentionally Cheat”
In her Instagram posts, she reiterated that the mistake was unintentional.
“I am painfully, painfully embarrassed that I did not know this rule,” she said. “There were so many cameras on me – to blatantly cheat with that many people and cameras around would be insane.”
Spiranac stressed that in all her years of playing golf, she has never been accused of cheating. “I made a mistake… it was a rules infraction, and I’ll never do it again.”
Tournament Drama Didn’t End There
The controversy ultimately contributed to a loss for Spiranac’s team, especially after a separate cheating scandal involving Togisala surfaced later in the match. The event, filmed over the summer and released in October across six episodes, has since fueled days of online discourse.
Despite the negativity, Spiranac ended her message by thanking those who checked in on her.
“All the support means so much to me,” she said. “It’s been an interesting week and a half.”