A TikTok star who revealed he was in a relationship with a retired footy star has fired both barrels at AFL boss Andrew Dillon – but gay rugby league icon Ian Roberts has called for him to cool his heels.
Scot O’Halloran is one half of the Luke and Sassy Scott podcast, which involves the brothers posting comedic videos and sibling banter that’s seen them attract more than 3.6 million followers.
Adelaide star Izak Rankine has been at the centre of the biggest controversy in the AFL after using a homophobic slur during a match against Collingwood.
He was handed a four-match suspension, reduced from an initial five games after medical submissions were taken into account, leaving the door open for a late-season return if the Crows make the grand final.
The incident drew heavy criticism of the league’s handling of discrimination cases and reignited calls for stronger cultural change across the AFL.
On their podcast, O’Halloran has previously revealed he had a secret long-term relationship with a retired AFL player.
TikTok personality Scot O’Halloran, of Luke and Sassy Scott fame, has launched a furious attack on AFL CEO Andrew Dillon
Dillon (pictured) is under fire over what critics see as a soft penalty for Izak Rankine over his on-field homophobic slur
He said the relationship ended because of the ‘toxicity and homophobia’ that still exists in football.
Scott stressed the need for greater support of LGBTQ+ players and confirmed he would never reveal the player’s identity.
Now he has taken an extraordinary shot at Dillon for going too soft on Rankine.
‘The next player who uses a homophobic slur, their contract is terminated,’ Scott said.
‘I have a lot of mates in the AFL.
‘They’re players, managers, leaders, they’re too scared to speak up. That’s why I’m speaking today.
‘Now to the every f***ing day fan, the ones yelling slurs, writing in capitals in the comments section, I may be doing it for someone in your immediate family.
‘Be very careful who you are damaging.’
Adelaide’s Izak Rankine copped a four-game ban after using a homophobic slur against Collingwood
Rugby league legend Ian Roberts urged O’Halloran to calm down, saying anger would not create lasting change
Then O’Halloran ramped up his attack, roping in Dillon’s wife and children.
‘Andrew, I know you don’t like bringing your kids into this, and what a f***ing privilege that must be for you,’ he fumed.
‘Every single time a gay slur is thrown out on the field, my family gets brought up into this.
‘And now you’ve booked Snoop Dogg who just mocked same-sex parents, like me. That’s an embarrassment.
‘And that’s my family that you’ve brought into this. So I don’t want to hear that this is complicated. This is personal.
‘What do your daughters and what does your partner think of it?’
Roberts became the first elite male rugby league player in the world to come out as gay during his career.
Off the field, Roberts has become a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and a respected voice against homophobia.
Former West Coast Eagle Mitch Brown also made headlines, coming out as the AFL’s first openly gay ex-player this week
And he replied to O’Halloran on his Instagram post, saying that anger and frustration would not help the situation.
‘Man I have to disagree with you on the way you believe this stuff should be handled,’ he posted.
‘I hope I’m wrong but it feels like you have so much anger/frustration even maybe hatred boiling away just below the surface.
‘That is no starting point to formulate any sort of resolution for anyone.
‘We need to rise about [above] that, we need to be understanding also.
‘We all need to do better. Peace.’
Mr Dillon and the AFL have been contacted for comment.
Mitch Brown became the first former AFL player to publicly come out as gay or bisexual in the AFL/VFL’s 129-year history this week.
The ex-West Coast defender, who played 94 games between 2007 and 2016, revealed his sexuality in an interview with Daily Aus.
Brown said the strain of hiding who he was played a major role in his decision to retire from the game.
