Erin Molan threatened for ‘racist’ on air comments
Nine commentator Erin Molan has come under attack from former NRL player John Hopoate who threatened Molan with violence in a now-deleted Instagram post following comments she made on air.
Reacting to Daily Mail reports that Molan’s 2GB slip up was an ‘inside joke’, Hopoate responded on social media saying “when I accidentally trip this RACIST B***H over and she falls and scrapes her RACIST mouth on the ground. But I won’t apologise cause it’s an inside joke”.
Understandable for our non-Pasifika community attempting to properly announce our names, but to disrespect and make a mockery of former/current Pasifika players in the NRL like how you carried on is DISGRACEFUL! My grandfather would be tossing in his grave in anger!🤬@Erin_Molan https://t.co/CTMuzHEatl
— Martin Taupau (@MartyKapow) June 5, 2020
The comments came as Molan and her 2GB colleagues were discussing the pronunciation of Pacific Islander names, with Molan saying “hooka looka mooka hooka fooka” during the conversation.
Hopoate responded online with: “It was an inside joke between colleagues so it’s OK. Just like when I accidentally trip this RACIST B***H over and she falls and scrapes her RACIST mouth on the ground. But I won’t apologise cause it’s an inside joke between friends.”
The post has since been deleted.
Hopoate wasn’t the only player to respond to the comments. Manly Sea Eagles prop Martin Taupau also spoke out on Twitter following the segment, as did rugby star Augustino Junior Poluleuligaga.
People like @Erin_Molan are sendin the wrong message to young Poly kids with all that clown behaviour. Makin em feel embarrassed of their last name & that they should let it slide when people pronounce their last name incorrectly to make things easier. Never that.
— SPYCC (@spyccmusic) June 5, 2020
Now, following Hopoate’s comments, Studio 10’s Kerri-Anne Kennerly has voiced her support for Molan. Kennerly herself is no stranger to controversy, having said Indigenous people should ‘get over’ the white invasion of Australia.
Kennerly told the Daily Telegraph that Hopoate was a ‘boofhead’ and that violence against women should be called out.
“I know her and I really like her. For any boofhead to come out and suggest violence against any woman … that behaviour has to be called out,” Kennerley told the Daily Telegraph.
https://twitter.com/the_jham/status/1270103941062119424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1270103941062119424&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fau.sports.yahoo.com%2Fnrl-2020-john-hopoate-violent-threat-erin-molan-205720938.html
“It drives me mad in this climate that the people who are so politically correct are the most intolerant people of anyone else.
“[Molan] is not a malicious person and wouldn’t do anything deliberately hurtful.”
Molan has not yet responded to Hopoate’s comments. Nine declined to comment.
I hope the poly boys in the NRL decline her when being asked to do an interview or anything to do with her until she apologizes. I know how it feels. It used to make me feel embarrassed + angry when I should have been feeling proud along with my family. Inside joke my ass 👊🏽 https://t.co/VmQYME1e1x
— Tino Jnr Poluleuligaga (@JIP2EZY) June 8, 2020
The world is becoming a very difficult place to live !! For goodness sakes lighten up.
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Another female media personality under attack from the macho men. There wouldn’t be an an issue if it was a male making the error of judgement.
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Furthermore, I’ve heard match commentators mispronounce players’ names during the call of the game. Never an issue then.
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So you’ll jump to the defense of this white women speaking systematic racism to a huge audience, but don’t worry about the huge repercussions of her words and “inside joke.”
Greg Bush – you’re wrong. If a white male said the same we’d be going after him too. Because guess what? TIME IS UP ON ALL YOUR WHITE RACIST JUNK.
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Let me make a wild guess here. Pete and Greg white males? Yep. Racist comments that are inside jokes = definition of casual RACISM.
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Not excusing Hopoate’s comments (they were not ok), but clear Molan is no angel on this one either and should be held to account. She should apologise for her “inside joke”. She is an influential personality with a platform and should know better. Casual racism is still racism, even amongst close friends, and regardless of the intent.
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Is this Mumbrella or the Daily Telegraph?
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The ‘racism’ label works both ways. Calling out ‘white males’ is a classic example of racism, but of course that doesn’t sit well with the left wing hypocrisy movement.
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Mate there’s a difference between mispronounce and taking the piss out of. No matter how wrong the commentators may get it – the difference is they have genuinely tried to pronounce names correctly. Molan has not only taken the piss out of their names; but also their culture. In my eyes that is racist.
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There are none so blind as those that refuse to see.
There are none so deaf as those that refuse to listen.
There are none so stupid as those that refuse to think.
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Her racism is unacceptable. The fact that she even thinks it’s an “inside joke” says it all. Simple.
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I agree, not sure what this article has to do with advertising but it’s becoming a common thing with Mumbrella
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Face it. White women are below black men on the victimhood pyramid…
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Ffs what’s with this over reaction. It seems to have been taken out of context, not knowing the full story behind it. As a poly, i can’t see her comments as racist or offensive at all. At least she and the others were trying to pronounce and find the correct pronunciation. It would have been offensive if they didn’t try at all.
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Hi Confused/David,
Mumbrella covers media, marketing and advertising – indeed “Everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella”.
It has been common for us to report on media owners and their associated personalities since our inception, in addition to advertising/creative, marketing, media agencies etc.
Vivienne – Mumbrella
Thanks for the personal attacks, trolls. You’re correct on one point, yes, I’m a white male. However, being the father of a son who is half Asian, I find it difficult to be racist. If there was a similar term for ignorant, ill-informed and hate-fuelling keyboard warriors, I’d love to point it in your direction.
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https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/erin-molan-addresses-false-reporting-of-polynesian-names-story/7e56ff21-f9e0-40f7-bd72-d65795ac9d6a
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