Erin Molan talks about the toll of social media trolls in emotional interview with 60 Minutes Australia

Channel 9 star Erin Molan has spoken out about how a constant barrage of nasty online abuse sent her “to some pretty dark places”.

Nine sports presenter Erin Molan has broken down in tears as she discusses her battle with online trolls.

Comments made on 2GB earlier in the year thrust Molan into the spotlight and saw her become public enemy number one on social media.

During an on-air conversation about player names with The Continuous Call co-hosts Darryl Brohman and Mark Levy, Molan said: “hooka looka mooka hooka fooka”.

Molan’s comments quickly drew widespread backlash among the NRL community with past and present players lashing her for appearing to mock Pacific Islander names.

But Molan has hit back, with it being announced this week she is suing Daily Mail Australia over a story she claims painted her as “racist” and an “arrogant white woman of privilege”.

In a statement provided to news.com.au, Daily Mail Australia will be “strenuously defending the proceedings” and will file a defence shortly in accordance with court rules.

In a preview clip of an upcoming interview with Channel 9’s 60 Minutes, the star of the Nine network addresses the severe backlash she faced over the comments and how the time for action is now.

“The time to prosecute trolls is here,” Molan says.

“You’re not big, you’re not tough. You’re scum of the earth.”

She added: “It really hurts you, you go to some pretty dark places.

“Every single Australian should be terrified about what is happening online at the moment.”

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Molan copped heavy social media backlash.

Seibold was the target of an ugly smear campaign.

The barrage of abuse on all channels of social media piled up for Molan, but even after reporting them the networks refused to step in.

“I’ve reported these messages to Facebook, their response was that they were not considered offensive,” she says.

“They are not doing their best, not even close.”

Along with Molan, former Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Seibold opens up on the vitriol that was directed his way.

Seibold became the target of an ugly smear campaign that saw him lodge an official complaint with police to bring charges upon the people responsible for spreading vile rumours about him.

The ugly campaign ended with Seibold stepping away from his role as the coach of the Broncos and he says it ruined his reputation.

“My situation went viral on social media, defamatory comments, my reputation was ruined in a lot of respects,” he tells Steinfort.

“The very last message on social media was the one that probably upset me the most, because it spoke about my daughter.”

The full interview with Erin Molan and Anthony Seibold will air this Sunday on 60 Minutes.