Joey Barton has been charged with 'malicious communications' following controversial tweets directed at football pundit Eni Aluko, where he compared her to notorious criminals Fred and Rose West. Barton, who has a history of criticizing female commentators, made these remarks after Aluko and Lucy Ward covered an FA Cup match in January. In response, Aluko has sought legal action against Barton for defamatory statements, claiming his comments have left her fearing for her safety. While Barton called on Elon Musk to defend freedom of speech on his platform, he has faced backlash for his comments, which many have deemed misogynistic. Aluko expressed that such online threats are not a matter of free speech but rather a violation of laws against harassment and abuse. Barton is scheduled to appear in court later this month to address the charges.