- Footy commentator and former player Kate McCarthy slams AFL bosses
- Player Kate Dempsey copped homophobic attacks on AFL’s platforms
- McCarthy says homophobic, sexist, racist comments online must stop
Channel Seven commentator Kate McCarthy has torched AFL bosses for not supporting footy star Kate Dempsey following ‘vile’ homophobic attacks against her on social media.
Richmond AFLW star Dempsey recently penned a column about her journey as a queer woman.
The story, which was published during the AFLW’s Pride Round, also paid emotional tribute to her daughter Pippa, 2, and wife Ellie.
‘Even when allowed to play, I remember kicking a goal and not one of the boys on my team giving me a high five, because they didn’t want to touch “the girl”,’ Dempsey wrote.
‘I’m not angry at those boys, I don’t believe they were trying to exclude me. But boy, do I still feel sad for that little girl sometimes. Everywhere she gravitated towards, everywhere she felt most comfortable, she was told she didn’t belong.
‘In Pippa’s world, this is normal. Women play football. Women are athletes. Sporty girls belong.
‘Pride in my family and for my career … and Pride that this competition embraces us all for who we were born to be.’
The story was shared on AFLW’s social media, alongside a photo of Dempsey and her daughter, and attracted hundreds of disgusting and homophobic comments.
Kate Dempsey (pictured with daughter Pippa) copped homophobic abuse on social media after writing about her footy journey
Ex-AFLW player turned commentator Kate McCarthy (pictured) torched league bosses for not supporting Dempsey after she copped the online abuse
Richmond slammed the comments, and alerted the AFLW to the matter – but reportedly took two days to remove it from their platforms.
According to McCarthy, they didn’t act quick enough to support the player.
‘The post attracted more than 400 vile and derogatory comments,’ McCarthy said on Seven’s Talking W program.
‘The AFL then released a statement on Friday morning … almost three days later, apologising to Kate and her family.
‘This statement was made by an unknown AFL spokesperson, the same spokesperson explained that there were procedures in place for monitoring comments but admitted (the comments were not removed quickly enough).’
‘It is my understanding that no one from the AFL has personally reached out to Kate and her family, neither has any spokesperson or leader from the AFL spoken out in support of Kate and her family.
McCarthy (pictured with the ball while playing for Richmond this year) says homophobic, sexist and racist comments online must stop
Dempsey is pictured with her daughter Pippa ahead of her 50th game this season
‘Andrew Dillon (CEO), Laura Kane (football manager) and Emma Moore (AFLW football manager) have had media involvements since the incident and have not addressed it at all.
‘This whole experience has left Kate deeply affected and taken a significant toll on her.
‘She shared her story in the hope that it would help others who are potentially battling with their sexuality, and this was the fallout.
‘Enough is enough.
‘These homophobic, sexist, racist comments online must stop.’