Australian native and New South Wales Waratahs rugby player, Israel Folau, is set to have his contract terminated after he posted homophobic posts online.
Wednesday, Folau shared a post on Instagram stating that drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters should know, "Hell awaits you." The post continued to say that those individuals needed to repent and that only Jesus could save them.
The posts were triggered by the city of Tasmania in Australia's decision to pass a bill that would allow individuals 16 and older to change their registered gender without parental approval. This decision would also stop transgenders from having to undergo surgery to have their gender change accepted. New parents were also given the option to not list their baby gender on the birth certificate.
In response to the new law, Folau took to Twitter, "The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free," he said.
Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby Union released a statement following the incident.
"Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport. We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality."
RA and NSW supports rugby as a sport that should unite individuals. Everyone is welcomed to their games no matter race, gender, religion or sexuality. They deemed Folau remarks to be unacceptable, hence their decision to terminate his multi-million dollar contract, which wasn't set to end until 2022.
Folau posts ruffled many individuals feathers on social media. Many of which were to condemn his views. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said to TVNZ,
"Obviously on a personal level I clearly don't agree with what he said, he is a role model and a person in a position of influence and I think with that comes responsibility. I am particularly mindful as well that young people who are members of our rainbow community, there is a lot of vulnerability there and I totally disagree with what he said and the way he's using his platform," said Arden.
Joe Marler, English rugby player, was trolling Folau on Twitter by tagging him in GIFs of gay's kissing (Click to Watch) on social media.
This isn't Folau's first rodeo when it comes to anti- gay social media post. According to PinkNews, in 2017 Folau took to Twitter to express he didn't support marriage equality after his former team, Qantas Wallabies, announced they did support. He also made it clear he would vote 'no' on the Australia postal survey. In 2018, Folau took to Instagram commenting gay people would go to hell if they didn't repent.
Looks like all that hate got him in a hurtful situation.