Who is Reggie the Rabbit? Beloved mascot, Charlie Gallico, fears for career after pushing young Sharks fan

He is a towering figure at South Sydney despite standing just 125cm. Charlie Gallico, better known as Reggie the Rabbit, fears he may have led the team out for the last time after pushing a young Sharks fan.

He is a towering figure at South Sydney despite standing just 125cm.

Charlie Rabbit is a Rabbitohs’ institution – a much-loved club mascot who has found himself in trouble.

Aged 81, Charlie Rabbit — real name Charlie Gallico — is being investigated for allegedly shoving a nine-year-old boy while in his life-size bunny suit at Shark Park last weekend.

Souths’ mascot since the club’s readmission to the NRL in 2002, Gallico will be formally interviewed along with stadium event staff by club management over the pushing allegation which was widely shared on social media.

While he has a colourful past, trying to find a bad word about Gallico around the streets of Redfern is difficult.

It is a sensitive process for Souths given Gallico’s age and his long history at Redfern. Despite this, club officials know a mascot pushing a child is unacceptable.

Charlie Gallico is a retired panel beater and character around Redfern who has been the Souths mascot, Reggie the Rabbit, for the past 20 years. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Rabbitohs officials want to hear Gallico’s explanation and what he thought sparked the moment of madness.

Vision shows young Benji Agius, wearing a Sharks jumper, seeking a high-five when the drama occurred. Benji was there with his father and had primarily attended the game to watch his cousins play the halftime game.

Benji stumbled backwards from Gallico’s shove.

Speaking about the sideline incident on Monday, Gallico said he was grabbed by the child and denied any wrongdoing.

“I apologise if I did something wrong but I don’t think I did,” Gallico told 10 News. “I was coming off the field and he called me over. I went over like I normally do to make the kids happy and he grabbed me. And that’s it.

Reggie the Rabbit allegedly pushes young Sharks fan.

“I know my job, what I do for the club. It’s not in my nature to do anything wrong. I love the kids and I do a lot of hospital work, a lot of stuff. It’s not in my character.”

Gallico said he would be devastated to lose his role as Souths’ mascot.

“It would be very sad wouldn’t it?” Gallico said. “A lot of fans would miss me but you can’t do much about it.”

Gallico’s behaviour has surprised Souths fans - including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - given Gallico is an NRL treasure who was even invited to a wedding between Souths fans in Las Vegas.

The Prime Minister, who once served on the Rabbitohs board, defended Mr Gallico.

“I don’t want to talk about people’s height but it’s a fact that he’s a very small man,” Mr Albanese said. “He’s 81 years old. He’s been doing it for a long time, he would never try to hurt anyone. I’m sure if there has been inappropriate behaviour, he’d be the first to apologise but he’s a lovely fellow.”

While many call Gallico Reggie the Rabbit, his true moniker at Souths is Charlie Rabbit, a mascot who took over from the original Reggie the Rabbit, named Reg Fridd, who died in 1996.

Gallico and Fridd – who worked on the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – would often joke about who was taller. Fridd doubled as the Redfern Oval groundskeeper.

The incident involving Reggie The Rabbit at Shark Park on Saturday. Pic: TikTok

A panel beater by trade, Gallico opened his own shop aged 25. He has previously run the water for Souths’ junior sides – and La Perouse – while also conducting hospital visits for sick kids.

While giving a pre-game speech to players, Charlie would yell: “Do you want to win or not?”

“They were the best speeches you could ever hear,” said Souths skipper Cam Murray.

Former Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds said: “The fans love him, the players love him, coaches love him.”

Big on respect, Gallico would tell young players not to wear hats or caps when in the gym and when a junior star would run left rather than right, Gallico would yell: “Wrong f…ing way.”

Reggie the Rabbit is a beloved member of the community.

It was passionate and high-profile Souths fan Don Lane who first bought a bunny mascot suit to the club from America in 1968.

While acknowledged as being lighthearted, Gallico has taken his role as Souths’ mascot seriously.

In 2014, Gallico formally asked the NRL whether he could take off his bunny head to celebrate should Souths win the NRL grand final, which the club did. It was the first and only time Gallico revealed his face to punters as club mascot.

Souths even produced a 2023 YouTube movie called Charlie Rabbit.

The Shark Park incident was posted on TikTok by Benji’s mum, Caroline. Souths have vowed to keep the Agius family informed of the investigation’s ongoing findings.

Originally published as Who is Reggie the Rabbit? Beloved mascot, Charlie Gallico, fears for career after pushing young Sharks fan