Nine and Sunday Footy Show host Erin Molan have issued an apology to former NRL player Dave Taylor, after the program was called out for “fat shaming” him.
Molan, along with co-hosts Brad Fittler and Joel Caine, mercilessly mocked Taylor’s weight on the most recent episode of the Sunday Footy Show, naming him as the ‘Gutsy Player of the Week’ in a segment.
However, the segment immediately drew criticism from viewers, who said it had “fat shamed” Taylor and it was double standards, as it would never dare do it to a female athlete.
While Nine declined to comment on B&T’s story today (Monday), a Nine spokesman issued the following statement this afternoon: “We apologise to Dave Taylor for yesterday’s segment on the Sunday Footy Show.
“It was not the intention of the show to embarrass him.
“He’s been a wonderful rugby league player for many years, and through his playing and his personality off the field has contributed greatly to rugby league in this country.”
Molan echoed Nine’s apology with one of her own.
Absolutely appalled by this. Unreservedly apologise on behalf of the show to Dave Taylor. The panel were expecting the vision to show a gun try or a big hit as our gutsy play. There was no malice or intent to offend but that doesn’t matter. We are sorry. https://t.co/wB4z5PggwO
— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) August 13, 2018
