The Footy Show panel slammed as ‘vile bullies’ and ‘transphobic’
Sam Newman is no stranger to controversy. Photo: Nine Network
The Footy Show presenters Sam Newman and Billy Brownless have been slammed as “vile bullies” and “transphobic” after a segment on Wednesday evening’s program.
Brownless read a prepared joke that showed a St Kilda banner bearing the words ‘Saints R On A Roll, Believe The Hype, Last Week Wasn’t Pretty, Like This Kardashian Lookalike’.
The bottom of the banner showed a photo of Caitlyn Jenner. The former Olympic decathlon champion transitioned from male, Bruce Jenner, to female, Caitlyn Jenner, two years ago.
Brownless then told Nine Network colleague Newman: “That is you, the Foss [a nickname for Newman and short for “fossil”]. That is you. That is a lookalike. You and Caitlyn. Do you know who Caitlyn is?”
Newman responded: “I know who he … it is,” to laughs from the panel and audience, before saying: “Oh well, what is she? Is a he or a she? Still got the bloody … ”
Co-host Rebecca Maddern told Newman: “He is a she now,” to which Newman said: “What? Is that transgender is it? Or what is it?”
Watch the clip below
Newman on Thursday apologised over the incident, while St Kilda distanced itself from the comments.
Newman did know Jenner was a woman in 2015, when he said on the same show during a rant at the AFL’s themed rounds: “Why don’t we have a boat people day next week, or what about we have a transgender round and we will get Caitlyn Jenner to sing at the grand final?”
Angie Greene, the CEO of Stand Up Events, a charity aimed at fighting sexual and gender discrimination, took to Twitter to express her anger in the aftermath.
“Absolutely seething @AFLFootyShow @Channel9,” she wrote.
“Get these vile bullies off our screen! They are never held accountable. I will NOT let this sit.”
Newman issued a statement via Nine on Thursday, saying he regretted the comments about Jenner.
“What I said was not appropriate and I’m sorry to anyone offended,” the statement said.
St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said in a statement the club was disappointed “at language used on Wednesday night’s episode”.
Annie Nolan, the wife of Western Bulldogs premiership player Liam Picken, was another to express disgust at the incident.
“You [AFL Footy Show] are disgusting, transphobic, BULLIES!,” she posted on Instagram.
“You are the most disgusting representation of the game many of us love. Clearly you are stagnant but most of us are moving on without you.
“I hope your ratings continue to fizzle and then the ashes of what was once your pathetic tv show are left to blow across landfill where it belongs.
“You’ve shown us you’ll never improve.”
Nolan, who has three kids with Picken, then said her husband would never appear on the program until it changed.
“Your Sunday show may be marginally better, but as long as this show stays this way I will make it my vow that you NEVER get to have my husband on your show again,” she said.
“And I will encourage the same of those I know.
“I’m not only ashamed of Sam Newman and Billy Brownless [both no great surprise] but I’m ashamed of the silence from all those on the show.”
