Footy Show cops backlash after transphobic comments

Footy Show cops backlash after transphobic comments
Image: Image: The Footy Show / Channel 9.

THE Footy Show panel member and retired AFL player Sam Newman has come under fire for transphobic comments he made on last night’s show.

The panel were discussing one of the team’s banners over the weekend that had an image of Caitlyn Jenner on it, when Billy Brownless mentioned that she looked like Newman and asked if he knew who she was.

“I know who he… it is, I do,” Newman said.

The audience then laughed, prompting Newman to mock Jenner further.

“Oh well what is she, is it he or she now… still got the-?

“Is it transgender is it, or what is it?”

Members of the LGBTI community and their allies have since taken to social media to condemn the Channel 9 program along with Newman’s comments.

“Sam Newman is a relic of the past and his jokes are ugly, mean-spirited and out of step with the majority of Australians,” advocate and Victoria’s Young Australian of the Year Jason Ball said.

“It’s no wonder that the AFL Footy Show’s audience has halved over the past decade.”

“Absolutely seething @AFLFootyShow @Channel9, get these vile bullies off our screen! They are never held accountable. I will NOT let this sit,” tweeted ally Angie Greene.

“Trans ppl have one of the lowest rates of participation in sport – this only pushes them further away, this is not a joke, this is bullying,” tweeted James Lolicato.

“Just another in a long line of pathetic attempts at humour by @AFLFootyShow, show is not funny, entertaining or informative,” tweeted Dave Watson.

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9 responses to “Footy Show cops backlash after transphobic comments”

  1. It is 2017, and we in Australia still allow casual racism, islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia within comments! Just look at both our current Senators and MPs that are still 20th century gay-marriage phobic! So much for “Advance Australia Fair”!

    We are not an advanced society because my town of Forbes NSW still does not have the NBN, media laws are still from the 1950s and our marriage laws are a crazy embarrassing joke – that the current LNP government wants to spend nearly $200 million of taxpayers money on a pebicite – when that money could go to LGBTI mental health programs and compensation schemes for past anti-gay sex laws.

    Both in Western Australia and the Northern Territory (both run under Labor) still do not even have civil unions or a relationship register for couples! We here in Australia are so backward compared with other western nations of US, UK, Canada, NZ and Ireland – that no one wants to invest here! What is wrong with this country?

  2. Do we seriously expect cerebral enlightenment when watching the/any football show?

  3. Humour is one thing, and I am a great fan of it. I am a trans woman, and every day laugh with my friends and family about the many awkward conversations and predicaments I find myself in, and would be very disappointed if we weren’t comfortable enough to crack a joke or three over these incidents. Also, my transition over the years, if nothing else, has restored my faith in humanity, having met so many friendly and ultimately accepting people (even if they don’t want to invite me home for dinner).

    This though is something very different. The use of the pronoun “it”, for one, is extremely hurtful, along with the comment “It’s transgender is it, or what is it?” The fact that the other panellists went along with it (apart from one who had the courage to comment “She’s a she now”), only exacerbated the spite. Disgusting display.

  4. Seriously can’t anyone hack a little joke. Sam was baited and then encouraged so certain viewers are calling for his head. The aggression from some of the LGBTI and it’s so called supporters who are nothing short of patronizing need to take a deep breathe and not take themselves too seriously. Trans-gender for 1 is an issue that needs far more educating from all angles. If you want to have your issues rammed down peoples throats then it’s only fair to be able to take a joke. Sam doesn’t know Bruce Jenner and obviously doesn’t know Caitlyn Jenner. If this really upsets people then seriously you’re more dangerous to your own so called support of trans-gender people than any good. patronizing support is fickle love and only encourages fickle representation of ones self. Calling for someones head is a far bigger concern to me personally than an old man with old man views being put on the spot with a rather new age topic. seriously a lot of people need to get a grip. I’m sick of people head hunting people because of their opinions whether you agree or not. This backlaash horse-sh!t is reverse bullying. Very similar to margaret court. Where is people’s respect for the older generation. We won’t change their views so if you can’t handle what they say either harden up or don’t ask questions. Sam Newman has my respect because he is a nice person, entertaining and isn’t afraid to be himself. Calling for his head is way over the top and really pathetic of some peoples behalf.

    • “Very similar to margaret court. Where is people’s respect for the older generation.”

      When Margaret Court is simply wrong in her public statements, it’s perfectly reasonable to call her out on this. That’s not being disrespectful. She has her freedom of speech, and she uses it, and when she’s wrong we have our freedom of speech and we point out the obvious.

      I respect free speech and I encourage the entire broader marriage equality lobby to do the same. But responding to public comments with public comments is not disrespectful nor denying free speech, no matter how determined you are to confuse these issues.

  5. Sam Newman made a Transphobic remark and the audience responded by laughing at his remark, resulting in Newman making further such remarks. Yes, Sam Newman acted like a Transphobic bigot.

    And the audience? Well it was great to see that rather than finding amusement at the discrimination that trans-people face on an almost daily basis, they correct Sam Newman about his behaviour. Didn’t they?

  6. Sam, honestly you are like some old dinosaur, only difference between Ms Jenner and yourself is that if your plastic surgery goes any further you will be wearing your pubes as a beard!! Oh – except for the boobs – hers are probably firmer than yours.

  7. Most sports are entirely binary in their operation. They are also geared to speculate whether any new or ‘different’ ways of operating are some sort of underhanded way to gain an advantage over opponents. Most sports cultures are incapable of being able to make way for trans participation.

    • Here is another excuse Dave, gay marriage offends one person or organisation (such as the ACL) – that all gay marriages have to be banned within Australia!