How Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo turns homophobic haters into ‘motivation’

Josh Cavallo made international headlines when he came out as gay and subsequently copped homophobic slurs from fans. Here, he details his strategy for dealing with haters.

Rising Aussie football star Josh Cavallo has no time for haters.

The Adelaide United midfielder has vowed to continue calling out abuse after coming out as the world’s only openly gay top flight player.

“People can bring all the hate they want,” the 22-year-old tells the latest issue of Men’s Health magazine, on which he appears on the cover.

“It’s not stopping me, because at the end of the day, I’m saving lives through what I’m doing. And they’re in the crowd, drinking a beer and paying for a ticket to come and watch me. That’s the way I look at it.”

Cavallo came out as gay on Instagram in October, making international headlines due to the fact so few athletes are out and earning the praise of celebrities and leaders across the globe including Sam Smith and Ellen DeGeneres.

Adelaide United's Josh Cavallo is Men's Health cover star for August.

In January, Cavallo copped homophobic slurs being hurled at him during an Adelaide A-League v Melbourne Victory game. Cavallo spoke out at the time as police investigated death threats against the sportsman.

“Abuse from fans is going to be an ongoing issue but I use that as motivation,” Cavallo told the magazine.

Cavallo training at St Peters College. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The cover of the August issue of Mens Health, featuring the footballer.

“And the thing that always motivates me is the people that I’m doing this for. Whenever I do come across hate and negativity, all I have to do is open up my phone and see all the messages that are coming through. To know that there’s hundreds of thousands of people that I’m helping get through their day and be themselves is incredible.

“In football you’re going to come across abuse, whether you’re gay, straight, whether you miss a goal, miss a penalty, get a red card, get sent off, you’re going to come across hate. Not everyone’s going to like you, so I’ve accepted that that’s the way it is.”

Cavallo has described the abuse as “motivation” to help others.

He hopes to take stigma away from sport.

He continued: “Of course, it does matter, but the fact is, I can take it. Being the first one, I’m going to experience a lot of hate, but I’m taking the stigma away and I’m taking all that hate so that in five years’ time, that kid that’s growing up, that little Josh, does have someone to look up to and he’s not going to turn away from football or any sport he chooses.

“It’s unfortunate, but have to go through this stuff to make it easier for the next generation. Everyone has a different opinion on whether you should call out the abuse. For me, I would call it out because it’s not me that it will affect.

“It’s that little kid who’s looking through my Instagram and sees that photo, and thinks he wants to be like Josh Cavallo, but then he sees a negative comment and that might stop him. I always look at it through the eyes of others. I do think it’s important to call things out because it does stop once you do.”