Sam Newman has, in the past 12 hours, been labelled the AFL Footy Show’s biggest star, worthy of the TV hall of fame and a racist.
All three could be true, some, or none, depending on who you ask.
In the wake of the announcement of the AFL Footy Show’s axing, fellow Footy Show alum Eddie McGuire had nothing but praise for Newman, but it was a tweet from Newman overnight that’s caught the most heat.
Women’s 200 metres in Doha. Is there anyone who is white, that can run? Please don’t quit, Sally Pearson. @Diamond_League pic.twitter.com/HJiFnv0rcy
— Sam Newman (@Origsmartassam) May 9, 2019
The response from Newman’s athlete analysis at a Diamonds League event in Doha was immediate.
I haven't watched The Footy Show in 20 years but it's been fascinating to watch Sam Newman's gradual decline from "football personality", through "media buffoon", past "self-styled provocateur", and finally coming to rest at "unemployed online white supremacist".
— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) May 9, 2019
See, the problem is that most of us see superb, beautiful athletes but a Neanderthal only sees colour. It’s 2019 ffs.
— Marisa (@mspiller21) May 9, 2019
Let’s be controversial. Has been.
— Milo Kerrigan (@noideabuthere) May 9, 2019
The Lone Ranger. pic.twitter.com/ZmxWkY6KOd
— Sam Newman (@Origsmartassam) May 9, 2019
For his part, Newman claims there's nothing racist at all about it.
It is beyond credulity that those looking for an angle, excuse, to be mortified, could decipher my comment about the dominance of black athletes as racist. It’s EXACTLY the opposite. Grow up. #IAAC #DiamondLeague
— Sam Newman (@Origsmartassam) May 10, 2019
Newman has courted controversy with outlandish statements of late.
Actually, it was quite recent.
While Newman probably hasn’t won himself any new fans with his latest perceived antics, McGuire is a rusted-on supporter of his former stablemate.
“Sam Newman should be in the TV hall of fame… there is no doubt that Sam Newman has been one of the most influential people in the history of media in this town," he said Friday on Triple M.
“Now that the show’s finished we can actually reflect on that.”
McGuire said despite the bitter ending, the show had been a success.
"I'm sad because it's the end of a run of a great show," he said on Triple M.
