Nine censured over Sam Newman’s ‘monkey’ Footy Show jibe

The Nine Network faces a payout of $200,000 if AFL Footy Show presenter Sam Newman causes any further offence following a media watchdog finding that he breached the commercial TV code by referring to a Malaysian man as a monkey.

A ruling issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority this morning said:

“A Sam Newman segment on Nine’s The AFL Footy Show has been found likely to have provoked severe ridicule and breached the commercial television code. Nine has agreed to pay $200,000 to charity in the event of any future breach by Mr Newman of the relevant code provision.

“The likely ridicule was against a Malaysian man on the basis of colour and race in a segment broadcast last year. Presenter Sam Newman commented on the marriage of a Malaysian man to a much older woman. The ACMA found Mr Newman’s repeated reference to someone as a sub-human primate (such as a monkey) and the statement that he is ‘not long out of the forest’ was a serious ridicule.