The Carlton AFL team is investigating a podcast made by Blues fans after one of the hosts said he would ‘punch the f**k out of’ members of a female-centric supporters group.
Rocco Stagnitti, one of the hosts of The Jumper Punch podcast, made the comment as he spoke about which other Blues ‘influencers’ he could beat in a fight as he and his co-hosts proposed a boxing event involving other Carlton content creators.
The panel were discussing which people Stagnitti could beat in a fight when he said, ‘I’d punch the f**k out of the besties. Nah, I would win that, wouldn’t I?’
Stagnitti’s words sent his co-hosts into fits of laughter in the episode that was published on Tuesday night.
The Carlton Besties are female-focused Instagram influencers who also produce their own podcast.
A Jumper Punch co-host replied to Stagnitti’s remark by saying, ‘There’s Respects Round right there,’ to more laughter from the panel, as he referred to the team’s Carlton Respects gender equality program, which seeks to prevent violence against women.
Podcaster Rocco Stagnitti (circled) is pictured saying he’d ‘punch the f**k out of’ female content creators who run the Carlton Besties social media podcast and Instagram account
Besties founder Tori Saros is pictured in a video the group posted slamming Stagnitti and his co-hosts, who laughed at his remark on their The Jumper Punch podcast
Stagnitti (pictured) posted a video apologising for his comment after it sparked outrage online, with footy fans calling it ‘horrendous’ and ‘abhorrent’
Outrage over the clip soon spread online.
‘There is ZERO situations where comments like these are okay. Besties footy exists as a safe space for women to exist within the AFL community … absolutely disgusted,’ one fan wrote.
‘I’m so mad. What the actual. I’m so sorry, this is so abhorrent. Those men should be so ashamed,’ another added.
‘Oh this is horrendous. What the hell is wrong with men?’ another commenter said.
The Jumper Punch countered by putting up a post on Instagram showing an extended version of the clip in which Stagnitti talks about male content creators he couldn’t beat in a fight before he made the vile remark.
‘Last night on the show, we proposed a boxing event featuring ALL Carlton creators, to raise money for charity. UNFORTUNATELY, certain comments were taken well out of context in terms of the conversation, so here is the FULL clip,’ the podcasters wrote.
That did nothing to take the heat out of the Besties’ anger over the disgraceful quote.
‘Here is all the context, like it makes a difference,’ the Besties wrote on Instagram as they re-posted the longer clip.
One of Stagnitti’s co-hosts joked ‘There’s Respects Round right there’ after the offensive remark, referring to the Blues’ round 12 game on May 29, which is held to benefit the Carlton Respects gender equality program that tries to prevent violence against women
‘A reminder, violence against women and conversations surrounding the issue should not be mocked.’
In an earlier Instagram post, the Besties said the outburst is ‘a perfect example of why initiatives like @carltonrespects need to exist’.
‘This isn’t the first time and I’m sure it’s not going to be the last, but this page in particular keeps using us in their content in a negative way for whatever reason, but this is where we draw the line,’ a Besties host said in the accompanying video.
Stagnitti then posted a video of his own on The Jumper Punch’s Instagram apologising for his actions.
‘We were simply talking about a charity boxing night which we have spoken about on numerous shows, and we were simply talking about who we could beat and who we couldn’t,’ he said.
‘Although my intentions were not malicious, I completely acknowledge that what I said promoted the wrong message and made many feel uncomfortable.
‘This is a position I would never want to put anyone in, but more importantly women. For that, I am sorry and I apologise to everyone that was affected by my comments.’
Carlton is now investigating the matter. The Jumper Punch has no direct ties to the club.
Several footy fans have called for members of the podcast to have their club memberships revoked.
