Andy Carroll Opens Up: Grateful for Support After Assault Revelation

Andy Carroll, the former England striker and Newcastle hero, has taken a moment to thank everyone for their overwhelming support following his recent revelation about being sexually assaulted. The 36-year-old, who has seen highs and lows in his football career, opened up about the traumatic incident that took place in his home back in 2021. At the time, he was in his second stint with Newcastle United and feared that he might never fully move past the emotional scars. The man responsible for the assault, identified as Kevin Adams—a dance coach known from the BBC show Fame Academy—was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2023 after being found guilty of sexual offenses. In an interview with The Sun, Carroll shared the weight of his experience, noting how daunting it was to speak out. He mentioned on the Football Uncensored podcast that the response since he went public has been incredibly supportive. "I've been beating myself up about it, and as soon as I've said it, the support that I've received has been massive," Carroll reflected. He added, "If I had spoken out five years ago when it happened, maybe I would have felt a lot better by now and started to heal. I'm content with who I am today, and I’m grateful for the love and support from my partner, family, friends, and now the public." Carroll, who has played for notable clubs like Liverpool and West Ham and currently co-owns National League South team Dagenham, recounted the assault in his autobiography, 'Owning It'. He described waking up to the horrifying situation. After confronting Adams, Carroll forcefully ejected him from his home, even knocking him out when he attempted to return. He candidly expressed that giving evidence in court was a humiliating experience, stating, "It was eating me alive inside for so long. There are certain things you can't get over, and I’ll never, ever get over that." Despite the pain, Carroll feels that sharing his story has allowed others to understand his past struggles better. "Now I know that people can see who I was then and what I’ve been through, and they help me and support me," he said. Since Carroll's revelations, Adams has yet to publicly respond to the accusations against him.