Reilly O’Brien defends social media post with polarising author Jordan Peterson

Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien has defended a social media post with polarising author Jordan Peterson.

Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien has defended a social media post with a polarising author and says getting backlash for expressing their interests stops players from showing more personality.

O’Brien was criticised for sharing an Instagram photo alongside Jordan Peterson last month with the caption “a great man” after one of the Canadian’s shows in South Australia.

Peterson, a clinical psychologist, rose to fame in 2016 via a YouTube series called Professor Against Political Correctness.

He has questioned if climate change is real and has slammed Qantas for playing in-flight Welcome to Country messages, calling it propaganda.

In June, Peterson was banned from Twitter after posting comments about transgender athletes and women.

O’Brien said he did not agree with everything the American thought but called the reaction to the Instagram photo “quite amusing”.

Reilly O'Brien posed with Peterson. Picture: Instagram/Reilly O'Brien

He said his post was one of gratitude.

“In society it’s hard to have a point of view without getting shot down, especially with someone like that who doesn’t agree with the mainstream narrative a lot of the time,” O’Brien said.

“I think we’d like more opinions, especially from AFL players. AFL players can be a bit vanilla compared to American sports, for example.

“I think there can be a lot more interest can be generated if players can be themselves and express their views.

“Obviously you don’t want to be expressing crazy views, but expressing views and having a bit more interest outside of footy.”

O’Brien believed it was only a small minority that “shout that down” and call Peterson controversial.

Reilly O’Brien called Jordan Peterson a ‘great man’. Picture: Getty Images

“In my opinion, he’s a pretty mainstream figure, he’s sold-out stadiums around Australia and probably been one of the best-selling authors in the world the last few years.

“I’ve got a lot out of his work in terms of the psychology side, in terms of taking responsibility.

“He’s been a huge influence on me and a lot of people I know.”

Asked what made Peterson a great man, O’Brien said: “I think he’s helped millions of people around the world, including myself”.

“I think he fights for that and he speaks his mind.

“I don’t always agree with everything he thinks, but if you look at the impact he’s had on the world, he’s probably saved millions of people from the brink in terms of their mental health ... and I think that’s very admirable.”