Disgraced former Australian rugby player Israel Folau sparks outrage following “appallingly insensitive” comments about bushfires.
Israel Folau, who was dismissed by Rugby Australia earlier this year for homophobic comments made online, has found himself under the glaring spotlight of scrutiny once again .
In a church sermon, the disgraced ex-international claimed the wild fires that have ravaged approximately 158 thousand hectares of Asutralian land were a result of “God speaking” following the recent legalisation of same-sex marriage in the country.
In the sermon, given at the Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Sydney on Sunday, Folau suggested Australia’s acceptance of same-sex marriage was responsible for the catastrophic bushfires: “God is speaking to you guys. Australia you need to repent and take these laws and turn it back to what is right.”
The country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison was quick to condemn Folau’s remarks as ‘appallingly insensitive’.
London-based rugby reporter Tom May – who earned two caps for England and played professional rugby for New Castle, Toulon and Northampton Saints – was also quick to highlight that there is no place for these comments in the rugby community.
May, who was reporting for TalkSport Radio at the Rugby World Cup last month, called Folau ‘a clown’ and ‘the biggest of all morons’.
Can someone just shut this bloke away? Now reckons the horrific Australian bush fires are due to God punishing the country for legalizing same sex marriage & abortion. What a clown. Please save the World from this man. The biggest of all morons. pic.twitter.com/kztpoa4OcG
— Tom May (@TomMay1) November 17, 2019
Folau also faced condemnation from Rugby World Magazine writer Paul Williams, who labelled him a ‘Medieval fool’. In addition to this comment on Twitter retired Scotland international and Harlequins clubman Tim Visser added ‘did this man not attend a school?’.30-year-old Folau was dismissed by Rugby Australia earlier this year following a number of homophobic comments made on his social media, most notably this post on Instagram:
Did this man not attend a school?
— Tim Visser (@timbovisser) November 17, 2019
30-year-old Folau was dismissed by Rugby Australia earlier this year following a number of homophobic comments made on his social media.
Folau had been exiled from the global rugby community following his first comments and prior to his more recent comments, Folau had been appealing his dismissal by Rugby Australia. These recent comments are unlikely to help him in his appeal.
I don’t write this with hate or anger after Israel Folau’s comments.I write with sympathy. To everyone who reads it, don’t be influenced by his words. Be the better person and be YOU. Whoever YOU is..Hell doesn’t await YOU.Happiness awaits YOU.?❤️
— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) April 10, 2019