Stuart Hogg faces backlash as campaigners demand he lose his MBE following domestic abuse conviction
Selkirk: So, there’s a bit of a storm brewing over Stuart Hogg, the former Scotland rugby captain. He’s been in hot water after admitting to abusing his ex-wife, Gillian, for five years. Now, people are calling for him to lose his MBE.
Women’s rights advocates are really pushing for this. They think it’s just wrong for someone who’s been convicted of domestic abuse to hold such an honor. Ellie Wilson, a rape survivor, is among those saying he should be stripped of the award. They feel his light sentence doesn’t match the seriousness of his actions.
Hogg got his MBE last year, but things took a turn when he pleaded guilty to domestic abuse charges. He was found to have been tracking Gillian’s movements and sending her distressing messages. The court gave him a community payback order and a non-harassment order, but many think that’s not enough.
He’s already been banned from contacting Gillian for five years after breaching bail conditions. It’s a messy situation, and people are really upset about how it’s being handled.
Ellie Wilson pointed out that awards should go to role models, not someone with a domestic abuse conviction. It’s a fair point, right? The whole thing just feels off.
Dr. Marsha Scott from Scottish Women’s Aid weighed in too, saying that domestic abuse is often called “intimate terrorism.” She believes the sentence doesn’t reflect the harm Hogg has caused. It’s a tough conversation, and it’s clear that many are demanding justice for survivors.
