'I don't give a stuff': AFL star refuses to apologise for saying his teammate was 'very Jewish' and 'never bought a drink'
- Former Richmond Tigers star Mal Brown made the comment about Kevin Bartlett
- He said his former teammate was 'very Jewish, he never bought a drink in his life'
- Channel 9 and Tony Jones, the host of the show, issued statements apologising
- But Brown refused to apologise, claiming he 'didn't give a stuff' about it
- Brown in 2010 refused to apologise for calling indigenous players 'cannibals'
A former football star has refused to apologise for a racial slur on live television where he called his teammate 'very Jewish' for not buying his 'fair share' of drinks.
Former Richmond Tigers AFL star Mal Brown told fellow panelists on The Footy Show his former teammate Kevin Bartlett 'was very Jewish; he never bought a drink in his life'.
While Channel 9 and Tony Jones, the host of the show, issued statements apologising for the comments, Brown told The Herald Sun he felt no need to retract his remarks.
Former Richmond Tigers AFL star Mal Brown refused to apologise for a racial slur on live television where he called his teammate 'very Jewish' for not buying his 'fair share' of drinks
'I don't give a stuff,' he said, when asked if he thought people would be offended by the connotations the reference drew.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said Brown needed to withdraw his comments.
'While we value the role of humour, sports figures, who are often role models, need to be mindful of not peddling offensive and demeaning stereotypes, especially those that are rooted in classic anti-Semitism, and which generate laughter at the expense of others.
'Putting down any religious group by suggesting that they are stingy and cheap is simply unacceptable and never funny.
Brown told fellow panelists on The Footy Show his former teammate Kevin Bartlett (pictured) 'was very Jewish; he never bought a drink in his life'
'Mal Brown crossed the line with this tasteless remark that called up ethnic slurs and should realise that such language only reinforces harmful, pre-existing prejudices.
'And though he may not be aware of this, I will remind Mal Brown that it is often young people who the pay the price for such slurs by being taunted at school with crude, damaging smears.
'The bottom line: such jokes are never acceptable.'
In 2010 Brown refused to apologise for calling indigenous Australians 'cannibals' during a celebration of the 15th anniversary of the EJ Whitten Legends Game.
Instead, he said he was sorry the comments had received exposure and that he meant them in jest and as 'terms of endearment'.
Tony Jones (pictured), the host of the show, issued a statement apologising for the comments
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