Former England goalkeeper addresses reaction to her new book
Mary Earps has told BBC Sport she did not set out to "tear anyone down" in her upcoming autobiography, after selected extracts prompted criticism. The goalkeeper, who played a major role in England's Euro 2022 success, said she feels parts of the response have been misrepresented.
Passages from Earps' memoir, published this week and previewed in national media, include her describing conversations about the recall of former team-mate Hannah Hampton to the England squad. Those extracts led to public criticism from supporters and from Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor, who said Hampton had shown "class" and suggested Earps had "disrespected" manager Sarina Wiegman.
"It's been really overwhelming to see how some things have been distorted a little bit," Earps told BBC Sport.
"I've not written this book to tear anyone down in any shape or form. That is not who I am as a person. This is real life. It has consequences. It isn't a drama.
"Women's football has entered into a space that has become a bit like entertainment, so your life gets picked apart for people's amusement sometimes. But it's not amusing, you know?
"I don't think I've thought about what I wanted the reaction to be. I'm not surprised, by what I've seen on my algorithms [on social media], if I had come to the same conclusions as other people if I'm honest. But that's not what I feel I've written.
"I don't think it's a fair reflection and I think it's been taken out of the entirety of the context. I speak about so many different things and it's hard to see only certain things being pulled out and really focused on."
Earps declined to expand further on the specifics of the dispute with Hampton in the interview, but the book also covers how losing the England number one position before Euro 2025 affected her relationship with Wiegman. She described the breakdown as a divergence of perspectives rather than an abrupt collapse.
"There were things that happened in the summer that I wish had happened differently, of course. There's an exchange at the end where she says we're like family. I hope the noise of this situation hasn't changed that," Earps said.
The 32-year-old, now playing for Paris St-Germain, emphasised she has no regrets about her career choices.
"Hindsight is a beautiful thing and I would maybe do things differently with the information I have now, but I don't think I have regrets," she said. "Regrets are hard because it's outcome-driven. You can be a hero in one person's eyes and a villain in another's. If you do things with integrity and the right intentions then I don't think you should have regrets in life, no matter what the outcome is."
Earps writes candidly about being bullied at school and the lasting effects those years had on her confidence and behaviour in team environments. She described revisiting that period while preparing the book as particularly difficult.
"It probably planted a seed. I didn't stand up for myself back then and my life has been about trying to find that strength to stand up for myself," she said.
"I just assumed that people didn't like me for most of my life and career. I found it really challenging in team dynamics because I went in always assuming that. I was conditioned to feel like nobody really cares. I was withdrawn in that sense. I was used to not being liked. If I spoke then people picked on me so I just got used to being quiet."
Those feelings, Earps adds, contributed to panic attacks and periods of anxiety and depression. During the Covid lockdown she has said she turned to alcohol and also restricted her eating as part of her struggle with mental health.
As Earps' profile rose, so did appearances at high-profile events and the level of media attention. She reflected on how public scrutiny of appearance can clash with an athlete's performance needs.
"It was definitely conscious. For as long as I can remember, aside from the last few years where I've had a much healthier relationship with food, I've always felt like I wasn't slim enough or athletic enough," Earps said. "But it's not nice when you're not comfortable in your own skin to have your fat pinched and told you need to bring it down a bit. I can remember being really young and just not liking what I looked like."
"You're in a room getting all these photos taken and you think 'that was a horrible angle'," she added. "The way you look aesthetically and fuelling as an athlete are two conflicting ideals. That's hard for anybody in the limelight."
Earps has also opened up about her private life in the book. She recently told the BBC she felt "ready and happy to share" that she is in a same-sex relationship with her partner, Kitty. Earps said meeting Kitty prompted reflection and, at times, confusion, but she is proud of the relationship.
"I don't see sexuality as linear. I don't label things. It's being brave enough to say 'yes, this is my relationship and I'm proud of that - I'm not ashamed'," she said. "I have always tried to keep my relationships private but that isn't realistic when you're writing a book of integrity and authenticity."
During the 2023 World Cup period, Earps recounts a difficult family moment connected to her relationship, and says they have since worked through the issues.
"My family mean a great deal to me and so does my relationship. There were difficulties we had to navigate but we're through that now, thankfully," she said.
Earps also revealed she has frozen her eggs as she considers combining a future family with the latter years of her playing career.
"It was a crazy, invasive process. I would love to be a mum and have a family but I love playing football," she told the BBC. "Some players go off and become pregnant which is their right and they do a fantastic job. I would prefer not to do that. I want to, hopefully if the universe allows it, have a child later down the line."
"There were a few questions that I couldn't answer. You are pumped with hormones for X amount of days and then you have the procedure. There is general medical advice but it would be great for there to be research around specific athletes. Is there a certain loading or exercises you should be doing? Should you avoid certain things?"