Singer Rob Mills has apologised after posting an image on social media which has been slammed as homophobic following the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.

The former Australian Idol contestant posted a photo following the match of two AFL footballer figurines, depicting the Hawthorn player standing behind a bent-over Sydney Swans player.

Social media users took to Twitter to describe the image as ‘in bad taste’, with others saying they ‘thought better’ of Mills.

@prestontowers @erinrileyau bad taste shame on you @RobMillsyMills

— Sports-Medicine-Law (@DrBenKoh) September 28, 2014

@RobMillsyMills Yeah nah, Millsy. Not cool. You’re supposed to be a friend of the rainbow community!

— Katie Purvis (@katiemelb) September 27, 2014

Shame on you @RobMillsyMills for instagramming that vile, homophobic lego picture about the Swans v Hawthorn. I thought better of you.

— Bec Barrett (@bec_barrett) September 28, 2014

The 32-year-old, who now works as a stage actor in musicals, said he was ashamed he had contributed to the “entrenched inadvertent homophobia” in Australian culture.

“In the excitement of celebrating the Hawks Grand Final win, I didn’t think about the homophobic implications of the image,” Mills said in a statement.

“As a long-time supporter of the rights of Australia’s gay community, it’s not good enough and I’m ashamed if I have contributed to it, even in a small way.”

I apologise unreservedly for the photo I tweeted yesterday – it was immature and inappropriate… Full statement here http://t.co/RbesSMDgAE

— Rob Mills (@RobMillsyMills) September 28, 2014

Despite the backlash over the image, many celebrity friends of Mills defended him on social media.

Radio personality Em Rusciano denied he was homophobic, while Mamamia editor Jamila Rizvi said he was a good man.

You guys! @RobMillsyMills is a fecking great egg. He just did something dumb caught up in a euphoric moment. He’s not homophobic. For realz.

— Em Rusciano (@EmRusciano) September 28, 2014

Proud of my friend @RobMillsyMills who made a mistake + rightly apologised. He’s a truly good man, who would never intentionally cause hurt.

— Jamila Rizvi (@JamilaRizvi) September 28, 2014