Former professional golfer and social media influencer Paige Spiranac, who has 4 million followers on Instagram for her sexy, entertaining, and hilarious content, has noticeably reduced her online presence. Fans have been wondering about the change, especially because it happened shortly after allegations she cheated at the Internet Invitational golf tournament in November.
Spiranac broke her silence in a fan Q&A to address mounting speculation about her silence on mainstream platforms. The athlete admitted that she has been struggling with anxiety and is in a ‘kind of funky rut.’
‘My Anxiety Has Taken Control’
Spiranac recently revealed that her decision to withdraw was not a marketing ploy but a necessary response to escalating mental health challenges. The influencer noted that the relentless pressure of maintaining a public persona had begun to take a physical and emotional toll.
‘I am in a bit of a funk, a rut if you will, and it’s not like a one or two day thing,’ Spiranac explained, per the New York Post. ‘This has been going on for a little bit. I feel like I’ve just been so in my head about everything and I’m just trying to work through it. I think that’s why I haven’t been posting as much because I am just overthinking everything and I just feel like my anxiety has taken control.’
She added that she was trying to get back to her usual schedule. She, however, acknowledged that she hasn’t been as active because ‘I’ve just been in my own head, in this kind of funky rut and we’re working through it.’
Paige has been struggling with anxiety and her profession makes it all the more challenging for her to keep her mental health stable. The golfer said what she does can be ‘draining sometimes and quite soul-sucking.’
Also, she felt that people would often misunderstand her. However, she is committed to still showing up without the need to explain herself too much.
Spiranac has established herself as golf’s leading influencer. She has over 4 million followers on Instagram, surpassing Tiger Woods in terms of social media reach.
The Cheating Scandal
In November, Spiranac was among the influencers who joined the Internet Invitational. The golf tournament, however, ended with her being involved in a cheating scandal.
During the game, she was caught on camera pressing down the long grass in front of Malosi Togisala’s ball while it was sitting in the fescue during the final match. However, the move was considered to be improving a lie and was not permitted. For her part, Spiranac said she was not aware it was a violation.
‘I wasn’t trying to cheat. I would never do that,’ an emotional Spiranac said.
However, most of the responses were critical because they were not convinced she wasn’t aware of the rule, given that she was a professional golfer. Following the controversy, Spiranac said that she has received ‘tens of thousands of death threats’ since the championship match was uploaded on YouTube, Fox News reported.
Social Media Break Among Celebrities
Paige Spiranac isn’t the only personality who finds social media draining. Several celebrities, including Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, and Tom Holland, to name a few, also took a social media break for their mental health.
As public figures, celebrities attract fans and critics, and the latter can be unforgiving. Gomez previously said she had to step back from her social media accounts to avoid toxic online content.
The Spider-Man star also did the same, admitting that he ‘spirals’ when he reads stuff about him online. Holland admitted that he found social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter‘ detrimental’ to his mental state because they can be ‘overstimulating’ and ‘overwhelming.’
