They met at school, in south London, when they were both 17 years old. Her name is Lauren Fryer, and he is Declan Rice, now a star for the England national team and Arsenal. No one imagined that this high school love would have to survive something as ugly as cyberbullying.
As Rice became famous, attacks on Lauren over her appearance multiplied on social media. She ended up deleting posts and stepping away from the platforms to protect herself. There was even an incident during an Arsenal-Tottenham derby in which an opposing fan showed him a photo of her on his phone, seeking to ridicule him in front of everyone.
Rice did not stay silent: “My wife is the love of my life and there is no one better for me”, he said publicly. Today they are parents to Jude, born in 2022, and their story continues to go around the world as an uncomfortable reminder of what footballers’ partners face. 💔⚽
