NFL’s Michael Sam kissing partner “annoyingly gratuitous”: Sam Newman
SAM Newman has drawn the ire of the LGBTI and wider community after he described a shared kiss between two men on TV as 鈥渁nnoyingly gratuitous鈥�.
The co-host of the AFL Footy Show made the comments during last night鈥檚 episode, after .
鈥淭hat is just an annoyingly gratuitous act,鈥� Newman said.
After immediate interjections from his fellow hosts Garry Lyon and James Brayshaw, Newman (pictured) added: 鈥淓xcuse me, at the risk of being branded no heterosexuals do that when they get drafted鈥� it was a gratuitous act. Annoying gratuitous.鈥�
Lyon and Brayshaw were quick to call the 68-year-old 鈥渉omophobic鈥� and 鈥渙ff the pace鈥� and boos from many in the audience followed his remarks.
Lyon disagreed with Newman鈥檚 statement about heterosexual athletes.
“You always see shots of players drafted in basketball or footy, whether they’re with their girlfriends, wives, partners 鈥� of course they embrace and kiss,” he said.
Newman responded: “Now we’re resigned to do what we’re actually doing, which is talking about it.”
Newman鈥檚 comments come in light of a recent and an incident involving a NSW NRL player who used .
Openly-gay Aussie Rules player Jason Ball said that Newman鈥檚 comments highlighted why such a campaign was started: to combat negative views and treatment of the LGBTI community to improve the lives of youths who are faced with disproportionate rates of depression and suicide.
鈥淚t鈥檚 offensive that a gay kiss is not held to the same standards as a straight one. There鈥檚 no way Newman would ever have a problem if it was a male player kissing his girlfriend,鈥� Ball told the Star Observer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly na茂ve to think heterosexual players don鈥檛 kiss their partners鈥� it鈥檚 a brilliant example of how out of date his views are.鈥�
Ball spoke of an encouraging encounter he had with Newman once after a speech he gave about homophobia in sport, where he was approached by Newman who congratulated him on his talk and shook his hand.
鈥淭hese comments are really disappointing and surprising following my experience with Newman. I really saw and hoped that he was someone who had changed,鈥� Ball said.
Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 president Andrew Purchas called Newman鈥檚 comments 鈥渃ompletely ignorant and out of step with the community鈥�.
鈥淗e would never see a straight kiss as gratuitous鈥� and it was fantastic that the audience and co-hosts were quick to condemn him,鈥� Purchas told the Star Observer.
鈥淗is remarks are in no way going to help people struggling with their sexuality and whilst there was quick criticism of him, it doesn鈥檛 negate the fact that the comments were made and further add to negative views already out there. This will just further compound things.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a sad reflection on the kind of person Newman is. He鈥檚 hiding under a rock.鈥�
Speaking to Ball鈥檚 experience with Newman in person, Purchas said that it was indicative of some issues people have within the community.
鈥淣ewman was happy to shake Jason鈥檚 hand and all that, seeing someone in flesh and blood is okay. It makes it harder to express homophobic views,” Purchas said.
“However, when those people are just images on TV and they aren鈥檛 really seen as ‘real’, internal homophobia comes to the floor.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a freedom to spout anti-gay remarks when you aren鈥檛 confronted with a gay person. Newman loves to play up to a persona he鈥檚 created for himself but these are genuinely-held beliefs and regardless of intent, he鈥檚 abused his position to cause damage.
Reactions on social media have also been critical of Newman.
The AFL has condemned Newman鈥檚 comments and reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating homophobia in AFL and other sporting codes.
鈥淭he AFL continues to promote inclusion and to challenge homophobia at all levels through education, through our rules and policies, and through support for awareness raising initiatives such as the Bingham Cup, the Pride Cup and the 鈥業DAHO 4 Footy鈥� campaign, amongst others,鈥� a AFL spokesperson told the Star Observer.
鈥淒iscrimination and vilification in sport and the broader community is never acceptable. Sam Newman does not speak for the AFL.鈥�
The Star Observer聽contacted Channel 9, which airs the Footy Show, to obtain a response from Newman. A spokesperson advised that the matter “was dealt with on the show”.
(Main image source: Channel 9 via YouTube)
In the hetro community if a straightman has a “Facelift” he would be considered and heckled as a PANSY,Poofta.
So Newman there you have it,before you throw stones expect to be called names,exspecially from your generation from the 50’s…old Racist,Homophobic Australia..shame.
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Agree with Robert.
As the coffee-mug saying goes, “old wankers never die, they just lose their grip”.
He’s old. (In terms of his attitude.)
He’s a wanker from way back. (Look at his back-catalogue …)
And he’s lost his grip. (See comment re “old”.)
Wow. Poor old fool. I imagine that will mean he is gone.
Good.