Lauryn Goodman, 31, spoke out after Kyle Walker suffered racial abuse this week but she also hit out at the footballer, accusing him of abandoning their two children
Lauryn Goodman has shared a rare message of support for Kyle Walker after he suffered vile racist abuse this week.
The 34-year-old footballer was racially abused after Manchester City lost 2-0 to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, he posted the message he received on Instagram, reading: “Bro you can f*** around and die you stupid a** n****.”
Alongside the post, Walker wrote: “No one should ever be subject to the sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse I have received online since last night’s match. @instagram and the authorities need to stop this happening for the sake of all who are suffering this abuse. It is never acceptable. To our fans, we will continue working as a team to do better, to improve, and to turn the corner together.”
Now, 33-year-old Lauryn, who shares son Kairo, four, and daughter Kinara, 16 months, with Kyle, has spoken out to defend him while also accusing him of abandoning their two children. She wrote: “I’ve just seen the vile racial abuse that my children’s father has received. It’s abhorrent and there is no place for racism in this world. It saddens me to see as I am raising our two biracial children without their heritage.”
But in a follow-up message, she accused Kyle of having abandoned their children, saying: “Whilst my heart goes out to Kyle for the abuse he’s been subjected to, I wish he had the same compassion for his two children he has abandoned after having a relationship with them. Especially with Kyle knowing just how much Kairo is being impacted it ceases to amaze me how the industry has swept this under the carpet because he can kick a ball ‘well’.”
She then shared a message of support from a fan, which read: “Exactly what I thought when I read about it. Yes the comments are awful but what about his children he has abandoned.” Lauryn added: “I’ll leave this here for tonight but that’s exactly my thoughts. It’s an outrage.”
Manchester City also condemned the racist abuse the footballer faced, saying: “Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse that Kyle Walker was subject to online following last night’s fixture. We refuse to tolerate discrimination of any kind, regardless of whether that be in stadiums or online. We will be offering Kyle our full support following the disgusting treatment he has received.”
The FA also released a statement, which read: “We are incredibly disappointed that Kyle has been subject to such abhorrent abuse on social media. Discrimination of any kind is completely unacceptable. We support strong action by the authorities and social media companies.”
Earlier this month, Lauryn spoke about her desire to rebuild her relationship with Kyle and for him to strengthen his bond with their children. She told Closer: “I hope we can all just move forward and do what’s right by all the children. I have faith and hope that bridges will be built for the sake of Kairo and Kinara, because at the end of the day, we share two wonderful children together and life is just too short.”
She added: “I’m hopeful their dad will come back to them and continue to build his relationship with them. I hope for Kyle’s sake it is sooner rather than later, because Kairo is starting to understand now. He asks for his daddy and he’s starting to realise that maybe it’s his choice [not to be around]. I always say that Daddy is busy playing football, but he’s not believing my excuses anymore.”
Lauryn previously shared that her son frequently asks to see Kyle, saying: “He asks for his daddy and he’s starting to realise maybe it’s his choice… I always say that Daddy is busy playing football, but he’s not believing my excuses anymore.” Lauryn added her hopes that “all” involved could “move forward and do what’s right for all the children,” and said she had “faith” that the right thing could be done for her kids.
The Mirror has contacted Kyle Walker’s representatives for comment.
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