Controversial former Footy Show host Sam Newman has been banned from Twitter after attacking a troll with a profane comment.
The 74-year-old told the Herald Sun on Saturday that he ‘could not give a stuff’ about his account being suspended for six days.
‘I don’t know why they think it is a penalty being kicked off Twitter. I could not care less. I do Twitter for a bit of amusement,’ he said.
Controversial Footy Show host Sam Newman (pictured) has been banned from Twitter after attacking a fan with a profane comment. The 74-year-old told the Herald Sun on Saturday that he ‘could not give a stuff’ about his account being suspended for six days
Newman added: ‘I was suspended for replying to someone. They don’t seem to suspend people who gratuitously swear at you or say detrimental or obscene things about you.
‘I am not sure why it is not a two-way street. It seems like selective outrage, but that is the world we live in.’
The exchange that got Newman suspended was between himself and a troll who spotted him driving in Port Melbourne and called him a ‘c**t’ in a tweet.
According to the Herald Sun, Newman fired back by tweeting, ‘the only c**t they would see was when they looked in the mirror’.
‘I don’t know why they think it is a penalty being kicked off Twitter. I could not care less. I do Twitter for a bit of amusement,’ he said
Those Tweets, which were made approximately two weeks ago, are no longer available on Newman’s account. His account however is still visible online
Those tweets, which were made approximately two weeks ago, are no longer available on Newman’s account. His account however is still visible online.
Newman has become known for raising controversy on the social media platform in recent months.
In November, he deleted a tweet calling Joe Biden ‘mentally retarded’ after online backlash.
Newman took to Twitter after Biden declared victory in the US presidential election after most media organisations called the election for Biden over Donald Trump.
‘Great day for inclusion and diversity,’ Newman wrote. ‘Shows someone who is mentally retarded and has special needs, can attain high office. Congratulations, Joe Biden.’
Newman has become known for raising controversy on the social media platform. In November, he deleted a tweet calling Joe Biden ‘mentally retarded’ after an online backlash
Three hours later, Newman pulled the offensive post down after it garnered negative reactions online
Three hours later, Newman pulled the offensive post down after it garnered negative reactions.
‘Thank you for the outpouring of advice, and your interest in what I do/say. Very much appreciated,’ he wrote in a second post addressing the removal.
However, he claimed his decision to retract the post was not due to the backlash.
‘There is a reason I deleted the tweet about Joey Biden – but probably not the one you think,’ he said.
‘There is a reason I deleted the tweet about Joey Biden – but probably not the one you think,’ Newman later tweeted. Joe Biden is pictured
The apology did little to alleviate public anger, with some Twitter users doubling down on their disapproval.
‘I’m not a fan of Sleepy Joe, however I am disabled. You really should choose your words more wisely,’ Australian Paralympian Jodi Willis-Roberts wrote.
However, Newman could not be dissuaded that his words were poorly chosen.
‘I did choose them wisely. I said he was retarded, mentally,’ he replied.
One person said Newman was behaving like a teenage bully, while another wrote: ‘I hope it was reported to twitter. You have embarrassed yourself and Australia’.
Newman wrote a second post three hours later addressing his decision to delete his first tweet
Australian Paralympian Jodi Willis-Roberts commented on Newman’s apology, criticising his choice of words while insulting Joe Biden
A fourth added: ‘I’ve supported you for a long time, Sam. As a Geelong supporter, a lover of the footy show and a golf fan but this is so far off skelter (sic) it’s not funny and the end for me. Go enjoy retirement in silence. Your opinion here is wrong, hurtful and inconsistent with Australian values.’
However, others rallied behind the former AFL great.
‘Loved the original tweet, even replied with a few facts,’ another comment read.
‘Everyone is so triggered about everything today,’ a second added.
‘Calm down, he hasn’t threatened anyone,’ someone else wrote.
The former Footy Show star is no stranger to the headlines, having built a TV career on his constant controversial remarks.
He made headlines in June after calling George Floyd, a key figure in the Black Lives Matter movement, a ‘piece of s**t’.
Newman made headlines in June after calling George Floyd, a key figure in the Black Lives Matter movement, a ‘piece of s**t’. Pictured wearing black face on the Footy Show in 1999
The former Geelong player appeared on the Sacked: Showbiz podcast in October and said he had become accustomed to being criticised for his brash perspectives.
‘The cancel culture kicked in and I got cancelled. The sponsors got a bit edgy… and I said if you want me to disassociate myself then I’m happy to do that,’ he told the podcast.
Newman also revealed that his controversial demeanour on the Footy Show had previously landed him in trouble with Channel Nine bosses.
‘I know once they did say to me, and I can tell you this, after I’d done something…
‘They said look, the Broadcasting Tribunal have given us a warning and said that if I do anything else again they will actually cancel the licence,’ Newman explained.
The former AFL star is no stranger to the headlines, having built a career over his constant controversial remarks
The TV personality said he was then asked to pre-record the show and almost quit in disgust.
‘And they said what we would like to do is tape the show and pre-tape it and put it to air,’ he explained.
‘I said mate that’s fine, if you tape the show I’m out.’
Newman said he had been warned numerous times to be careful because of his edgy humour and labelled himself the ‘most polarising figure in Australia’.
‘They want you to be as edgy as possible, because it’s all predicated on ratings, but they don’t want you to go too far so it’s frowned upon by people who give out the licences,’ he explained.
Newman said he had been warned numerous times to be careful because of his edgy humour and labelled himself the ‘most polarising figure in Australia’