Folau hits back at GoFundMe for shutting down his page, claims to be victim of “cyber attack”
Image: Image: Israel Folau / Instagram.
Rugby star Israel Folau has said he’s “disappointed” by GoFundMe’s decision to shut down his crowdfunding campaign, and has claimed he was targeted in a cyber attack.
The rugby star set up a GoFundMe page last week to raise money for his legal battle against Rugby Australia, who terminated his $4 million dollar contract over a number of anti-LGBTIQ+ posts he made on social media.
However, this week GoFundMe pulled the campaign and said it would refund almost $700,000 in donations.
The fundraising platform said it pulled down Folau’s page because it violated its terms of service.
“Today we will be closing Israel Folau’s campaign and issuing full refunds to all donors,” GoFundMe Australia regional manager Nicola Britton told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“After a routine period of evaluation, we have concluded that this campaign violates our terms of service.
“As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity.
“While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.”
In response, Folau’s camp rejected GoFundMe’s decision and claimed his campaign breached no terms of service.
“The decision of GoFundMe to cancel Israel’s fundraising campaign to support his Legal Action Fund is very disappointing,” a spokesperson said.
“The fundraising campaign was in line with GoFundMe’s Terms and Conditions as well as all relevant rules and regulations.
“Unfortunately, GoFundMe has buckled to demands against the freedom of Australians to donate to his cause.
“There appears to be a continuing campaign of discrimination against Israel and his supporters.
“Israel Folau is very grateful to the 10,000-plus supporters who believed in good faith that their donations would contribute to his case against Rugby Australia.”
Folau also claimed he had been subject to a denial of service attack, which was understood to have taken his team 12 hours to rectify last week.
“Since requesting public donations to help him with his legal action against Rugby Australia, Israel and his supporters have come under intense scrutiny in the media,” the spokesperson said.
“Further, Israel’s website has been the target of what we believe was a sustained cyber attack and there has been a deliberate attempt to vilify his wife Maria for supporting her husband.
“While Israel does not intend to respond in detail at this time regarding the accusations thrown at him or his family, he wants it known that these attacks have hardened his resolve.
“Thankfully, several organisations have already expressed interest in supporting Israel’s efforts to raise money for his ongoing legal case.”
The sinners, fornicators, drunkards, Atheists and others mentioned on Folau’s shopping list of condemnation aren’t organised communities, nor do they have meeting/worship places like religions do – therefore they’re out on their own.
Our gay community is a connected community and we stand up not only for ourselves but for everyone mentioned on that list of hate, because that is exactly what it allows and generates. Unless you’re a paedophile… Israel hasn’t included them on his list.
Falou broke Australian law & religious law by not abiding by the contract he signed…..Posted by a gay man who researches :P
Romans 13 New Century Version (NCV)
Christians Should Obey the Law
13 All of you must yield to the government rulers. No one rules unless God has given him the power to rule, and no one rules now without that power from God. 2 So those who are against the government are really against what God has commanded. And they will bring punishment on themselves. 3 Those who do right do not have to fear the rulers; only those who do wrong fear them. Do you want to be unafraid of the rulers? Then do what is right, and they will praise you. 4 The ruler is God’s servant to help you. But if you do wrong, then be afraid. He has the power to punish; he is God’s servant to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must yield to the government, not only because you might be punished, but because you know it is right.
I am likewise sick of hearing about this fool and this whole ridiculous ‘debate’. Religious freedom is about being free to follow which ever religion you choose, not using that as an excuse for hate speech. With freedom comes responsibility.
Now it seems the shoe is on the other foot and poor little fool is being ‘discriminated’ against. No, you violated the terms of agreement of the website, that you agreed to when you signed up to it.
I agree with other comments on this article, it’s not that fool verses the gays, he condemned everyone who isn’t in his stupid little religion. We should have all laughed it off and said, the nut bar is at it again.
This whole saga is being given media attention because it’s polarising the nation! No, it’s a moronic footballer up to their usual poor standards of behaviour.
When Australia stops their idolising of football players and sportsmen, this will have the attention it deserves, which is absolutely none.
I think the media has been inaccurate and probably “safe” and probably lazy in focusing about the homophobic elements of Folau’s comments. Yes Folau was homophobic and yes this required a response and Ian Roberts gave that response magnificently.
Why no reporting on the anti-Catholic elements of Folau’s Instagram post? I bet the Christian lobby would be a tad quieter if Folau’s personal definition of “idolators” (includes Catholics, he’s on video giving a sermon which states this, and it’s a commonly held Pentecostal position) was more broadly reported.
So why not go now? Now that the Christian lobby has painted itself into Folau’s corner so firmly, why not start reporting that Folau’s “free speech” includes condemning all catholics to hell? (And of course, why not force the catholics to respond pointing out that non-cathoiics are all going to hell?)
This is NOT about Folau versus the gay community, at least if it is then it’s not of the gay community’s making. This is about religious people demanding immunity to talk hate. If you want them to shut up about the gays, and I think it’s safe to say we do, why not change the topic to who else they hate? Because they really hate each other, and they should be forced to admit this.
I can’t believe he had the nerve to even start a go fund me campaign. He’s expecting others to pay for his bigotry? If he wants to fight his contract termination, then he should pay for it himself. Sell a few of his properties or something. The dude is disgusting.
I think it’s about time all these media outlets stopped reporting anything to do with Israel Folau. I’m so sick of hearing his name and all it is doing is making him bigger! Why can’t we just ignore the ignorant, stupid thug and maybe he’ll just disappear into obscurity, never to bother us again! At least stop printing his name and just refer to him as “the ignorant bile spewer”
And stop putting his photo on the articles about him. I’m sick of seeing him.