Former AFL star Jason Akermanis has labelled his former teammate Bob Murphy “two-faced” after his participation within the ABC’s Four Corners episode on Monday evening.
The episode was trying into why no AFL participant has ever come out as homosexual within the historical past of the league and seemed on the 2010 Herald Sun column from Akermanis about homosexuality in sports activities that had the headline: “Stay in the closet”.
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Akermanis’ AFL profession led to 2010 two months after writing the column when his contract was terminated.
Reflecting on his divisive column within the story, Akermanis mentioned his argument was that the burden for an AFL participant popping out as homosexual wouldn’t be “worth it”.
“Back then, I was like, Well, give a different slant,” he instructed this system.
“Why would you bother. We don’t care, it’s up to you. Why would you want to? Think about it. Is it worth it?
“They’re good questions to ask. You’ve got to weigh it up. It is a heavy burden.”
Western Bulldogs nice Murphy, who was Akermanis’ ex-teammate on the time, additionally featured in this system and mentioned he was “disgusted”, “embarrassed” and “hurt” by the column.
But Akermanis has hit again at Murphy, labelling him “two-faced”. He additionally criticised the ABC, calling this system “very biased” and claimed he was being handled like a homophobe.
“ABC is not fair and just like it’s supposed to be and show both sides. It was very biased,’’ Akermanis said to the Herald Sun.
“Just because someone hasn’t come out yet doesn’t mean the AFL isn’t doing enough.
“Everyone knows there is a strong culture in AFL and it’s not really anyone’s business.
“I played with (a gay player) at Brisbane and none of us cared. It didn’t worry me, I’ve got gay friends, it’s your business.”
Akermanis added he isn’t “anti-anything” and mentioned Murphy “showed me his true colours again”.
“The amount of people who contacted me to say how disappointed they are in the program and his behaviour is staggering,” he mentioned.
“He’s about himself, he never spoke to me or showed that he cares about his teammate.
“I wrote a column that was an observation, it wasn’t gospel.
“He’s a complete myth.
“With his help and the Bulldogs they made sure the AFL industry didn’t employ me. He was rubbishing my brand and he avoided me until I got sacked.
“Don’t tell us you’re all high and mighty and the reality is the opposite. He sooked it up then and he still is.
“He’s so two-faced and after all these years he still hasn’t got (the situation) out of his head.”
Akermanis, who gained three premierships and a Brownlow Medal with the Brisbane Lions earlier than transferring to the Bulldogs, mentioned he was “branded everything — homophobic, you name it.”
“Just because I write about it and you don’t agree with it doesn’t mean … I’m scared of gay people, which is just complete crap,” Akermanis mentioned.
“Look, I personally don’t care one way or the other. As long as you don’t sort of throw it in my face or tell me where I’m not interested. I don’t go around telling people what I do in my private life.”
In the Four Corners report, Murphy, who was a part of the Bulldogs management group on the time, mentioned he was horrified by Akermanis’ feedback.
Louise Milligan, who reported the story, famous that Murphy “still struggles to say his name”.
“I did want to get on record with the author (Akermanis) and say — I think what I said to him was — ‘that abhorrent sh*t that you wrote in the paper’,” Murphy mentioned.
“For me, in that time of my life, I was like ‘we’re done’.”
Murphy, who presently works for Fremantle within the AFL added that if a participant did come out within the AFL, that they’d be “fought for and supported”.
“I want a gay footballer in my football club so we can wrap our arms around him and say, ‘You’re one of us. We love you. You’re brave. You’re braver than anyone in this league, so that makes us braver than anyone else’,” Murphy mentioned.
“That will help us win. Then we might get change.”
Source: www.news.com.au
