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Keeper Mary Earps has emphatically said that her newly released memoir was not created to “damage others” and expressed concern that media response has been “distorted.”

Debated Statements and Fan Backlash

The former England player, who had a vital part in the Euro 2022 victory, faced backlash from followers and Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor after sharing views about past Lioness Hannah Hampton and coach Sarina Wiegman.

In her autobiography, Earps wrote that she told Wiegman she was “encouraging negative conduct” by reinstating Hampton to the Lionesses lineup after omitting her for being “disruptive and unreliable.”

“I’ve found it quite intense to see how parts were misrepresented,” Earps shared in an interview.

Explaining Her Motives

Earps strongly emphasized that her memoir was not designed to hurt others.

• “This book wasn’t written to tear anyone down in any way whatsoever.”
• “That isn’t my personality as a person.”
• “This is real life. It has implications. It is not a show.”

She also commented on how female soccer has entered a space that has become “somewhat similar to show business,” where private matters are scrutinized heavily for public amusement.

Connection to the Coach

Earps discussed losing the starting position as England’s number one ahead of the tournament and how that affected their dynamic with Wiegman.

She stated it was “not an abrupt downfall” in their connection—just a divergence in opinions—and she still respects the head coach.

“Several incidents that occurred during that period that I wish had happened differently,” Earps remarked.

Personal Struggles

In the autobiography, Earps discussed openly the bullying she suffered at during her education, describing it as a “extremely difficult” part to revisit because it revived previous trauma.

• “I didn’t stand up in those days.”
• “I always believed that people were against me for most of my life.”
• “I became accustomed to feel like people were indifferent.”

These feelings led to stress outbreaks, and Earps disclosed she faced challenges with self-perception and used alcohol during the Covid pandemic to cope with mental health struggles.

Private Matters and Aspirations

Earps openly discussed that she is in a partnership with Kitty and shared her happiness about her connection with Kitty.

She also discussed her wish to have children and revealed she has preserved her eggs for potential family planning.

“I would love to be a mum and have a family,” Earps said. “I am passionate about soccer, but I aspire to have a child at a later stage.”

Earps described the egg-freezing procedure as “intense and intrusive” and called for more investigation tailored to sports professionals undergoing comparable treatments.

During her remarks, Earps reiterated that she has no second thoughts about her sports path or personal choices, stressing that she always acted with integrity.