My video on TikTok breaking this news went viral, so I want to put the record straight by examining the whole picture: the interview, what was reported at the time, official statements, what Hannah Hampton has said, and what Mary Earps has now said. My first video covered the breaking news; this follow-up examines what has happened and what has been said since the extract was released.
Much of the following is directly from the book or Mary’s interview, which will appear in italics.
Mary Earps has every right to speak about her life and experiences; however, when those experiences involve another person’s mental health, sensitivity matters.
Context of the Guardian Piece
The Guardian published an exclusive interview and an extract from Earp’s autobiography, All In. Based on my journalism experience, it’s likely, though not confirmed, that Earps approved releasing this specific section before the book launch.
Media outlets have naturally focused on the controversy. Earps acknowledged this in her Instagram story, saying: “I know that the negative is what gets clicks… please see through the headlines and read it in its entirety.”
But if she knew negativity drives clicks, why choose a section discussing a teammate’s alleged behaviour, especially alongside sensitive personal themes like her sexuality and coming out? If she believes context matters, why pre-release the most contentious excerpt?
Earps is 32, well-trained in the media, and has extensive experience. She knows how this works. With hindsight, she may feel differently, but foresight should have been expected as well.
What Happened in 2022
Reports in 2022 claimed that Hannah Hampton was dropped from the England team due to attitude and behaviour issues at both national and club levels. This was never officially confirmed. Sarina Wiegman said Hampton had “some personal issues that she has to solve.” Aston Villa manager Carla Ward echoed this, saying her omission was in the team’s “best interests.” Neither discussed alleged behavioural problems.
Rumours escalated so severely that Hampton posted from the hospital, revealing an ongoing medical issue and a “small procedure,” adding that speculation had made her reconsider her career. She said stories were “untrue.”
Officially, this was never clarified until now. Which means Earp’s comments are the first time anyone at the centre of the team has publicly reinforced those rumours. We still don’t know what truly happened.
Hampton has since returned to the England squad and has been consistently selected for two years. Whatever occurred appears resolved. Earps has every right to her feelings, but given her experience with media and advocacy for mental health, it’s understandable that some hoped she’d avoid reigniting controversy that could hurt others.
If the issue was handled internally to protect Hampton from abuse, publicly revisiting it, even truthfully, was always going to reignite criticism and speculation. In a climate where women athletes are already pitted against each other, was revisiting sensitive events from three years ago necessary, especially considering Hampton’s admitted mental health struggles during that period?
Earps’ Instagram Response
Earps does not deserve abuse. However, her initial failure to acknowledge how her words might affect others felt disappointing. Her statement followed Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor's public address of the situation in her press conference and the online reaction to her comments. She posted to her Instagram story (this is only part of it):
“I understand that my honesty and rawness will divide opinion… women pitted against each other… It's sad that's the only thing being discussed… I would never intentionally say things to hurt someone… multiple things can be true at once.”
What Earps Wrote
Earps wrote in her book that Hampton’s behaviour at the Euros “frequently risked derailing training sessions” and was “disruptive and unreliable.” She said she was uncomfortable about Hampton returning, fearing a repeat of “disharmony.”
She added that she values developing young players and creating a positive environment, implying that allowing Hampton back was a reward for poor behaviour. But Hampton was 21, a young player at the biggest tournament of her life. If Earps values growth, could guiding Hampton have been part of that?
Earps also said other deserving keepers lost opportunities when Hampton returned. But what if Hampton had worked hard, improved, and earned her recall based on performance? Wiegman likely wouldn’t select someone she felt was still disruptive.
In private, Earps reportedly expressed in the book: “bad behaviour is being rewarded,” referring to Hampton’s recall. A year later, she still included that quote in her book, which suggests she stands by it.
Dropping and Retirement
In April 2025, speculation grew over England’s No. 1 spot. Hampton had just won a domestic treble; Earps wasn’t regularly starting at PSG. Wiegman named Hampton the first choice for the Euros. Earps said in the book: “It doesn’t align with my morals and values to continue.” Was this about principle, or losing the No. 1 shirt? We won’t know.
She also said in the interview: “The manager always has the right to make whatever decision for the greater good of the team.” She praised Wiegman’s success and said she had retired partly due to her mental health.
Wiegman urged her to stay: “I think it’s better that you stay for the tournament, win a trophy, then go.” This became self-fulfilling when Earps retired and Hampton stepped in. Hampton faced renewed abuse from fans who felt Earps had been wronged.
Earps later said in the book, regarding giving Khiara Keating experience: “I’d rather Khiara get the experience. I’ve had my time in the sun.” This doesn’t necessarily mean she wanted Hampton dropped more than without her, Keating would progress faster.
Mental Health and Responsibility
Earps has been vocal about mental health, discussing alcohol, body image, and dark periods. In this context, rumours about someone else’s struggles reopening feel contradictory. Hampton has spoken candidly on Ben Foster’s podcast about nearly quitting football due to the 2022 abuse. She faced hate in public, questioned her place in football, and sought time off to recover.
No England player publicly defended her at the time. If Earp’s role included supporting younger players, why didn’t she speak up when Hampton faced abuse, whether the rumours were true or not?
Earps said in the interview that she messaged Hampton privately, “no bad blood.” But if the situation was resolved, why revive it knowing the likely outcome?
Chelsea’s Response
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor defended Hampton following the Guardian piece. After Hampton kept a clean sheet vs London City Lionesses, Bompastor said:
“Hannah is an athlete but also a person… she has grown so much… It's not acceptable to not show respect… think before you speak… she is the best goalkeeper in the world.”
She also supported Wiegman, noting Earps criticised a manager who won three consecutive Euros.
Hampton has consistently praised Earps, saying she has “big gloves to fill” and thanking her for elevating women's goalkeeping. Hampton even defended Earps earlier this year when Earps faced scrutiny, saying she didn't deserve it.
Earps, meanwhile, both praised and criticised Hampton and Wiegman. She credited Wiegman with saving her England career. Still, she then expressed hurt when Wiegman didn’t watch one of her PSG matches despite Wiegman knowing Earps’ ability well and needing to evaluate other players.
Second book section released
Since the controversy over the release of the first book sections, she had rereleased a second one with a line likely to break the headlines rather than what she was actually talking about.
In her reflections on the 2023 World Cup, Mary Earps identifies what she calls the three major “talking points” of the tournament, placing her own achievements alongside the incident involving Spain’s Jenni Hermoso and former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales.
Mary writes:
“There were three huge talking points from the 2023 World Cup. One was the unspeakable kiss that Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales forced on Jenni Hermoso, which would later lead to his resignation and prosecution.”
“The other two talking points were both related to me. My penalty save in the final had been viewed as heroic. I’d been given the new nickname Mary Queen of Stops. The way the save and what it represented were being talked about was on a scale that was unprecedented in the women’s game.”
By framing these together one being a serious act of misconduct and the others moments of personal triumph Mary places very different experiences under the same label of “talking points.” Clearly, she’s referring to moments that captured global attention, but she likely didn’t consider the broader impact of bringing the Hermoso incident up at all.
At 32, with years of media training and experience, Mary knows how her words carry weight. Even if she didn’t intend harm, someone in her team should have recognised how such comments could be interpreted. The inclusion feels careless, especially since the Hermoso case had no direct relevance to her story or experiences.
In hindsight, she didn’t need to mention it. It didn’t affect her, nor did it strengthen her point. Like her earlier comments about the Hannah Hampton situation, revisiting past controversies can reopen old wounds and invite scrutiny over matters that have already been resolved. Both incidents happened years ago and were officially dealt with, yet bringing them up again risks dragging others into the spotlight unnecessarily.
The difference is that the Hampton reference had some relevance tying into Mary’s later comments about her international career and retirement whereas the Hermoso case had none. That makes this mention more misplaced and potentially more damaging. While her intention was likely to highlight how women’s football dominated headlines for good and bad reasons, this choice risks doing more harm than good, overshadowing her own achievements.
Nike / Advocacy Issue
This is what the piece was actually about her World Cup 2023 not Hermoso World Cup.
Mary also reflects on her off-field activism, particularly her public challenge to Nike over the lack of replica Lionesses goalkeeper shirts on sale before and during the World Cup.
She wrote in the book:
“The press conference where I’d called out Nike for failing to put on sale replica Lionesses goalkeeper shirts had exploded, triggering headlines across outlets covering news, business and women’s issues.”
“Nike issued a public response saying it was working towards solutions. I asked: ‘Is this your version of an apology, taking accountability, or a powerful statement of intent?’”
“When Nike saw how many people were listening to what I’d raised off the pitch, they did indeed U-turn, and when my shirts began to go on sale a few weeks later, they sold out almost immediately. I had taken on a global sports giant and won, entirely from a place of choosing my principles.”
This captures Mary’s strength as both a player and an advocate unafraid to challenge inequality and use her platform for change. Her campaign with Nike became a defining moment, proving how her voice could drive real impact beyond football.
Final Thoughts
Earps’ book contains powerful themes sexuality, personal demons, resilience. Yet these have been overshadowed by the controversy she predicted. She acknowledges media sensationalism, but still chose this excerpt for early release or allowed it to be chosen.
She has every right to tell her story. I simply wish consideration had been given to how revisiting 2022 might impact someone else whose mental health was already affected by rumours. Treat others as you’d want to be treated.
It is unfortunate that what Earps was actually saying for most of these two pieces, eg her retirement and her World Cup 2023 experience, will be glossed over by comments or things written about others, because ultimately she has been doing things for women's football and for goalkeepers, especially. In reality, but this recent controversy has tarnished that legacy and left many not respecting her anymore.
I do not cthe ondone abuse of anyone. I wish Earps had publicly shut down hate directed at Hampton and apologised for how her words might land. That seems unlikely now.
With the second part of the book released days after the first caused so much uproar she somewhat made the same mistake said something unccessary, that could hurt others when it was not relevant to what she was talking about. Therefore the media will pick up on the inclusion of Hermoso and not speak on the Nike element of this piece, which is more important and what Earps was actually talking about.
Both Chelsea and the FA have declined to comment since the release.
Moral of the story: empathy matters. Women shouldn’t be weaponised against each other especially in a sport where unity was key to its rise. Also do not speak ill of others, or speak on something controversial or that has no revelance to you or the message you putting across as it will only end up hurting you and everyone else involved.
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