'Bitter' Sam Newman is slammed for accusing AFL stars of 'preening' after taking the knee for the Black Lives Matter movement - as top footy journalist hints at his blackface scandal
- AFL players and umpires knelt on one knee in a stand against racism on Thursday
- Former Footy Show Host Sam Newman slammed the gesture before the match
- He wrote the act of solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement was 'preening'
- Caroline Wilson unleashed on Newman's 'terrible history' in race relations
Sam Newman has been slammed for his 'terrible history' in the area of race relations after he tweeted against AFL players for taking a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
The former Footy Show host claimed it was an act of 'preening' in a series of tweets before the Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies match on Thursday evening.
'Apparently the players and umpires will 'take a knee' before game tonight,' he wrote.
'If that is true, how long before we stop being intimidated into nodding in agreement and question the REAL motives. The game maybe incidental.'
In 1999, Newman appeared in blackface on the Footy Show impersonating indigenous footballer Nicky Winmar
Newman claimed taking a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement was an act of 'preening' in a series of tweets before the Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies match on Thursday evening
An additional tweet read: 'Before the AFL morph themselves completely into a political body, research some FACTS.
'McLachlan has turned himself into the Goodell of the NFL. IF you're going to kneel, know WHY you're kneeling. Stop the preening. It's bulls***.'
On Monday night's episode of Footy Classified, journalist Caroline Wilson unleashed on Newman's 'bitterness'.
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'Sam Newman said that AFL footballers taking a knee to say that Black Lives Matter were preening and divisive,' she said.
'He said most players didn't understand why they were kneeling and had been intimidated into it.
'For what it's worth, I didn't think it was political, I thought it was social and a united move and it was one that united all the players, black and white, and represented a brotherhood that Newman did not understand and therefore tried to belittle.'
Pictured: Players take a knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement before the 2020 AFL Round 02 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday
On Monday night's episode of Footy Classified, journalist Caroline Wilson unleashed on Newman's 'bitterness'
Wilson continued her criticism by seemingly hinting at Newman's blackface scandal.
'Sam, you've got a terrible history in the area of race relations, and you've done it again, unleashing a series of bitter and divisive rants,' she said.
'What an unfortunate piece of timing that the Sunday Footy Show decided to bring you back this week and portray you as the venerable football bead after you had unleashed so much bitterness.'
In 1999, Newman appeared in blackface on the Footy Show impersonating indigenous footballer Nicky Winmar.
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum across the globe following the death of black man George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody last month.
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum across the globe following the death of black man George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody last month
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