Danielle Collins Exposes Harrowing Incident: Cameraman's Unwanted Kiss on Tour
SHOCKING CAMERA KISS AND TENNIS FEUD: THE REAL STORY BEHIND DANIELLE COLLINS' TOUGH TALK
In a stunning revelation, US tennis star Danielle Collins has spilled the beans on a horrific incident that left her "at boiling point" during her early days on tour. The 31-year-old tennis sensation opened up about the shocking moment when a cameraman tried to forcibly kiss her - and it's not just the incident itself that's jaw-dropping, but the way it highlights the endemic misogyny in the sport.
Speaking on the "Reign with Josh Smith" podcast, Collins recounted the disturbing encounter: "I had a situation a bunch of years ago when I first got on tour... this guy goes, 'oh, Danielle, you know, I'm so sorry. Can I give you a hug?' And I thought nothing of it, but then he went in to kiss me and started making out with the side of my face."
The incident left Collins feeling vulnerable and frustrated, and she's not alone. "People don't see what happens behind the scenes," she warned. "They don't hear the comments that sometimes people make towards you... they don't see the weird men that show up to our events and stalk us and follow us to our hotels."
It's no wonder Collins has developed a tough exterior - it's a coping mechanism for the constant barrage of negativity and disrespect she faces on the tennis circuit. And it's not just her own experiences that have hardened her; Collins has spoken out about the misogyny that pervades the sport, saying: "There are women that get s* done... there are women that go after their dreams... there are women that are assertive, powerful, hardworking and they're people that I strive to be."
But Collins' outspoken nature hasn't always been met with admiration. Her recent feud with World No. 3 Iga Swiatek over a disputed injury call at Wimbledon has drawn criticism from tennis fans. "There's a lot that happens on camera," Collins explained. "And there are a lot of people with a ton of charisma... (who) are one way on camera and another way in the locker room."
The drama unfolded when Collins, who had previously labelled Swiatek as "fake" after their quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics, accused her opponent of insincerity over an abdominal injury that forced her to retire from their Wimbledon match. The incident drew a flurry of negative attention, with some fans calling out Collins for being too confrontational.
However, in a bold move, Collins has chosen to own her feistiness - and it's a quality she believes is essential for women who want to succeed in the male-dominated world of professional tennis. "When somebody says that, 'Danielle Collins is a bh,' I kind of just take it as a compliment because so many of the women that I love and respect have been labeled as a 'bh,'" she said, laughing. "There are women that get s* done... there are women that go after their dreams... there are women that are assertive, powerful, hardworking and they're people that I strive to be."
In an era where women in sports are still fighting for equal pay and respect, Collins' courage in the face of adversity is a beacon of hope. As she told thescholarlynote.com, "I don't need the fakeness." And with her unapologetic attitude and refusal to back down from a fight, Danielle Collins is redefining what it means to be a strong woman in sports.
THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE
US tennis star Danielle Collins has opened up on the shocking moment when a cameraman tried to forcibly kiss her during her early days on tour.
Collins, 31, joined the 'Reign with Josh Smith' podcast to reflect on a number of issues - such as how she's dealt with misogyny in the sport and how her endometriosis diagnosis has affected her career.
Among those discussions, Collins revealed all about the vile incident involving herself and a cameraman a few years ago and claimed that was left at 'boiling point'.
She explained: 'I had a situation a bunch of years ago when I first got on tour and I was dealing with a cameraman that was very persistent.
'And I remember I came off the court, I lost a long three set match, I'm kind of like cramping, I'm tired and all the things are happening. And this guy goes, 'oh, Danielle, you know, I'm so sorry. Can I give you a hug?'
'And I, I look at my coach, I'm like, 'uh, sure.' So I'm like, standing like this and he goes in to hug me and then all of a sudden he goes in to kiss me and I'm like, 'oh no, oh my gosh.'
'And he literally starts making out with a side of my face. So, yeah, people don't see that like behind the scenes.
'They don't hear the comments that sometimes people make towards you, they don't see the weird men that show up to our events and stalk us and follow us to our hotels. And so, yeah, sometimes you get to a boiling point.'
Meanwhile, Collins has previously come under fire for her feud with World No. 3 Iga Swiatek - who she recently fell to a defeat against at Wimbledon.
Collins had previously labelled Swiatek as 'fake' after they faced each other in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
Collins retired from the match in the third set because of an abdominal injury, and ripped Swiatek for being 'insincere' about her injury when they spoke on the court after the match, she said.
'There's a lot that happens on camera. And there are a lot of people with a ton of charisma ... (who) are one way on camera and another way in the locker room,' Collins told reporters after, via AP. 'I don't need the fakeness.'
It drew criticism from tennis fans and now Collins has opened up on the misogyny which she's faced due to her outspoken nature.
'When somebody says that, 'Danielle Collins is a bh.' I kind of just take it as a compliment because so many of the women that I love and respect have been labeled as a 'bh,' and they're a bada* woman. There are women that get s** done.
'There are women that go after their dreams. There are women that are assertive, powerful, hardworking and they are people that I strive to be.