Glamorous Serie A presenter Diletta Leotta opens up about sexist chants, meeting Mourinho and those stolen nude pictures
Posted Wednesday, October 09, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk
GORGEOUS Italian TV presenter Diletta Leotta has laughed off sexist chants made by Napoli fans as a joke, insisting it was all a "misunderstanding".
The 28-year-old beauty made headline news last week when video surfaced of a section of fans at the Stadio San Paolo chanting "fuori le tette" (which roughly translates as "get your t*** out") at the reporter as she made her way past a stand.
But Leotta, who anchors Serie A coverage for the subscription sports streaming service DAZN, has told SunSport that she saw the funny side, which is why she smiled, wagged her finger and gave the cheeky supporters the thumbs down.
She revealed: "It was a misunderstanding.
"Napoli fans supported me throughout the game, then they tried to go further after Napoli won, but it was just a joke.
"My reaction was part of the irony of the moment."
The blonde bombshell, who fell foul to iCloud hackers in 2016 who leaked nude images of the former Sky Sports Italy host, admitted she never imagined the story would get such traction around the world.
"Sometimes it feels like everything I do goes viral," she said.
"If I work out at the gym or dance in a club... So I wasn't surprised, but I didn't expect this story to cross so many borders."
HER OWN FAPPENING
Three years ago, Leotta was left devastated when private nude pictures were stolen from her iCloud and posted online.
Italy striker Mario Balotelli immediately jumped to her defence at the time, tweeting: "​Everyone is free to do what they want with their body, for better or worse. People who abused this situation are a**holes."
DAZN host Leotta said her run-in with Napoli fans was a "misunderstanding"Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta
In 2016 Leotta's iCloud was hackedCredit: Instagram @dilettaleotta
Leotta told us: "I filed charges, not only to protect my personal privacy, but as one of many women who need to fight back because of the same issues.
"I really appreciated Mario Balotelli's gesture and support.
"I felt I was not alone on that occasion and realised that the problem is much more common than I've ever expected."
JOURNALIST IN THE MAKING
Leotta began her football journalism career in 2010 when she worked for a Sicilian local network called Antenna Sicillia.
"It has always been a dream of mine since I was a child, and I used to interview my friends after their football matches."
The Catania-born law-graduate then moved to Sky Sports, where she presented the channel's Serie B coverage.
Leotta joked that even a story about her going to the gym can go viralCredit: Instagram @dilettaleotta
That was until 2018-19, when she moved to DAZN to host their Serie A coverage, a job she juggles alongside a radio show on the Radio 105 Network.
That's meant Leotta has had the opportunity to interview some of Italian football's biggest names.
"It's a privilege to interview such big legends for DAZN," she said.
"Last week I interviewed Radja Nainggolan in Cagliari and I got the opportunity to know the Belgian midfielder much better.
"I've been impressed by his strength and love for the team and his life.
"Besides great players, I have had the chance to meet the most successful football managers like Josè Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti.
"We gave Carlo a notebook and I asked him to write his wishes for the 2018-2019 season.
"No one but me read what he wanted, but I can say his wishes didn't come true!
"What you see is often different from what the day-to-day job entails," she said.
"A lot of my colleagues are just interested in their work and what happens on the pitch. But you know, Italy is glamorous on its own.
"It's always better to have more arrows on your bow.
"So if you're just interested in football you hear my words, otherwise you just look at me... I'm kidding, but the metaphor is pretty accurate."
Although she's a fan of the Premier League, football fans in the UK may be in for a wait for Leotta to present on our shores.
She said: "Never say never, but I'm from Sicily where the sky is always blue and the water is just like crystal."
But she does have one presenting dream, and it could come to fruition next year.
"I'd like to be on the pitch when Italy win the next World Cup!" she laughed.
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