Nine thanks ‘master at live television’ Sam Newman who continues making racial comments after ‘mutual’ split
On Friday evening, Nine News announced that AFL commentator Sam Newman would no longer appear on Nine’s TV shows, after a petition circulated earlier in the day demanding the network sack him for calling George Floyd a “piece of shit”, “crackhead”, and “pornstar”.
The decision – made “mutually and amicably” according to Nine – ends a 35-year relationship, and meant Newman lasted less than a week in the new ‘Sam’s Shed’ segment created for him on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. But, in a statement, the network emphasised he was a “master at live television” with a “highly successful media career”, and did not reference the widely-condemned comments.
“Sam Newman has been a part of the football landscape in Melbourne for generations. He enjoyed an illustrious playing career, notching up 300 games for the Geelong Football Club,” read the statement.
It’s weird he calls Heretier a loser – Lumumba won a premiership in 2010 and was All Australian. Sam Newman never won a premiership and was AA once.
So who’s the loser?
I read the headline and thought ‘Yes, Nine stands up’, but reading the details this is poor and weak. Sure, acknowledge his long career, but take a bloody stand and say they do not support or condone his racist remarks and that is why they are ending his contract.
And here we see another example of the end of free speech and the absolute fear of offending someone with different views… I understand companies don’t want to be seen having a particular point of view but audiences should understand it’s a platform and the person speaking is not representative of the organisation itself.
Firstly, there is no statutory provision for free speech exceptions in Australia.
Secondly, even in ideological liberalism terms, free speech is limited by the harm it does to others. Black face and referring to African Americans as ‘losers’, ‘a piece of shit’,’ ‘a crackhead’ and ‘partially educated’ would arguably meet the criteria of harm.
Lastly, you spent censorship incorrectly.
Hi Cherry,
I know you didn’t listen to the podcast so I’ll ask and answer a question for you.
Q) Did Sam Newman refer to African Americans as ‘losers’, ‘a piece of shit’,’ ‘a crackhead’?
A) No.
He did say George Floyd was those things but that had nothing to do with his skin colour, just like George Pell’s skin colour has nothing to do with him being called “a piece of shit”.
Here’s another question for you (again with an answer).
Q) Did Sam Newman, on the same edition of his podcast, call for the AFL and all sports in Australia, at senior and junior, professional and amateur levels to make it mandatory that all playing shirts / tops have a “Say NO to Racism” badge on them?
A) Yes, he did, and that was a fact that not one report mentioned in the predictable pile on.
I could not disagree more. There is no place for racism and white privilege. None, especially if they’re being paid by the media outlet. This is a man using this platform to insight hate and bigotry, using out of touch rhetoric and barely veiled “I am better than you” language to appeal to a base of uneducated bigots who think the same. Good luck to him, I hear Sky News is hiring.
@Cencorship
“…the end of free speech…” There is no such thing as “free speech” in Australia; it is implied, but it is not protected. People can say whatever they like, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from consequences. What you’re suggesting however, is that people should be able to say anything they like, no matter how hateful, untrue, violent or bigoted – that’s not free speech, it’s hate speech, and there are definitely laws against that.
PS It’s ‘Censorship’. You’re welcome.