Joe Williams has called out the Footy Show and one of its hosts for “racial profiling.”
INDIGENOUS former rugby league player Joe Williams has called for a host of The Footy Show to be sacked claiming “racial profiling” of an audience member.
Mr Williams called for Paul “Fatty” Vautin to be stood down and apologise after a segment in which he suggested an indigenous audience member would spend his prize money on alcohol for his family.
“Do you see how we see it we see it as racial profiling???” he said on Twitter.
“Point being, we are sick to death of being labelled as drunks — I haven’t had a beer nearly 12 yrs, when’s his? Preach positive words.”
Paul Vautin should be stood down @NRLFootyShow & made to publicly apologise to all @IndigenousX ppl. Racial profiling is racism @Channel9
— Joe Williams – TEW (@joewilliams_tew) June 2, 2017
Do you see how we see it we see it as racial profiling??? https://t.co/pycHcRE5J1
— Joe Williams – TEW (@joewilliams_tew) June 2, 2017
Point being, we are sick to death of being labelled as drunks – I haven’t had a beer nearly 12 yrs, when’s his?? Preach positive words https://t.co/OeKujWEbRq
— Joe Williams – TEW (@joewilliams_tew) June 2, 2017
He was racial profiling and racial profiling is racism https://t.co/5bM1u6SL4k
— Joe Williams – TEW (@joewilliams_tew) June 2, 2017
The Channel Nine Footy Show crew Beau Ryan, Erin Molan, Paul Vautin and Daryl Broham. Picture: Gregg PorteousSource:News Corp Australia
The outburst came after a segment on the show called Pass the Pesos in which Mr Vauntin, dressed in a Mexican outfit, handed a $ 6,600 cheque to Mr Romelo.
He then said: “All of your relations in Cairns just went ‘how good, I can’t wait until he gets back, we’re having a drink’.”
The comment was met with silence in the studio while Mr Romelo looked at him blankly. Mr Vautin quickly moved to change the topic but the issue was picked up online by comedian Michael Vincent who asked for Mr Williams’ views.
A spokesman for Channel Nine defended Mr Vautin, telling Mail Online he makes the “same comment or variation on it to everyone who wins that competition no matter where they are from.”
Opinions online ranged from people saying Mr Williams had “taken it the wrong way” to agreeing with his calls of “racism”
I think perhaps you have really taken this the wrong way.
— Arya Teller (@AryaTeller) June 2, 2017
Good grief! This is terrible! On all levels. Cultural appropriation and blatant racism. @TheFootyShowNRLhttps://t.co/u8TzYBCUGy
— Sharon Davis (@AETLCEWA) June 2, 2017
If he was doing that then he needs to be panned for it. But how do we 100% know he was doing that? You’d have to ask him.
— Honest Opinions (@cricket_fan_cz) June 2, 2017
It’s not the first time The Footy Show has sparked controversy, with rugby league legend Wally Lewis joking about oral sex earlier this year, when a contestant said she would read her answer with “no teeth.”
“It always feels better that way,” Lewis replied, smiling.
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