Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello throws support behind Gina Rinehart after Diamonds sponsorship row

Popular SA media figure Cosi has divided his followers after he threw support behind Gina Rinehart for pulling out of the $15m Diamonds sponsorship deal.

A popular South Australian figure has divided his followers after he threw his support behind Gina Rinehart and slammed Australian netabllers for ‘cracking the sh**s’.

Brekkie radio host Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello slammed members of the national team for “spitting in the face” of Ms Reinhart, which prompted her to pull a $15m sponsorship deal for the Diamonds.

It came after a week of turmoil where Diamonds players questioned Hancock Prospecting’s ideals on climate change and First Nations people.

The players were hesitant to don their uniform with the company’s logo.

In a post to the South Aussie with Cosi Facebook page, Cosi said the situation was “crazy”.

“To the team members that got the sh**s. You’ve won. You’ve lost the sponsor. But at what cost to the rest of the team or the sport???? Time will tell,” he posted.

“I wonder are those that got the sh**s using any products that are derived from mining? I bet they are. Of course they are.”

Cosi with his radio show co-hosts Bec Morse and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann.

He said he “felt sorry” for Ms Rinehart, praising her for her generosity.

“When I started our charity Cows for Cambodia, Gina Rinehart was so incredibly generous. She’s the richest woman in Australia but still had the time for our little charity,” he wrote

“She was kind enough to spend 15 million sponsoring this netball team. She didn’t have to. She chose to help them. Then a few don’t like mining so they crack the sh**s.”

He said she was doing it because she wanted to help.

“You’d think a group of ladies would embrace and welcome a successful business woman like Gina. Instead they spat in her face.”

Cosi on his Woodside property.

Australian Diamonds players sing the national anthem. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The online rant divided his followers, with some claiming the netballers’ position was mainly in relation to comments Ms Rinehart’s father made about First Nations people.

“Sorry Cossie it was all actually about what her father said about our Indigenous cousins,” one commenter said.

“It was downright racist, and especially because we have Indigenous players in the national netball team.

“All Gina had to do was come out and say that in no way did she support her late father’s opinions on this matter.”

Another poster praised the strength of the players in maintaining their position.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch Cosi! Maybe the girls don’t like doing deals with the devil. Good on them,” she wrote.

Others threw their support behind Cosi and Ms Rinehart.

“Do these women realise how many others would be proud to wear the green and gold and represent? Australian politics should be kept out of sport I think,” one woman wrote.