To say that the Sun newspaper are notorious is putting in mildly, and very politely.
Although the tabloid still remains a popular read in the UK, it is reviled amongst many for being hate-mongering, shamelessly disingenuous and worryingly right wing. And then there’s people who really hate it.
But we didn’t realise their reputation was quite so international.
Following her victory over Ekaterina Makarova to progress to the quarter-finals of the Porsche Grand Prix, tennis star Maria Sharapova was taking media questions at a press conference in Stuttgart. And yes, a certain paper was represented.
All a Sun journalist had to do was mention the name of his employers to make Sharapova shudder and sigh at having to deal with the hated red-top. The subsequent exchange left no one in any doubt as to her feelings about them:
Journalist: Dan King from The Sun.
Sharapova: Oh God.
Journalist: Nice to see you, too.
Sharapova: I don’t think The Sun has ever been in Stuttgart, have they?
Journalist: No. It’s nice, it’s fantastic.
Sharapova: First time, wow. Virgins.
Lol at Sharapova calling the Sun virgins pic.twitter.com/SidgNBOoTv
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 28, 2017
Many of Sharapova’s fans – and the Sun’s many committed haters – loved her attitude towards the News Corp title and made their feelings clear:
👏👏
— Andy Francis (@andy_francis2) April 28, 2017
Most feel the same way about The Sun 😂
— Scott (@ScottUnited77) April 28, 2017
Wow. She's just gone up in my estimation.
— Samuel James (@Stanleysonson) April 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/tennis4arsenal/status/857929020733829122
https://twitter.com/lizlong2003/status/857940152701857792
I'm a new fan
— RRM (@RRM_83) April 28, 2017
