Mitchell Pearce shamed in drunken Australia Day party video
WHILE Mitchell Pearce’s career is on the line after he was filmed drunkenly wetting himself and simulating sex with a tiny white dog at a party, the RSPCA says although what he did was ‘appalling’, they won’t be seeking charges.
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DRUNKEN Origin star Mitchell Pearce’s career is on the line after he was filmed wetting himself and simulating sex with a tiny white poodle cross before being thrown out of an Australia Day party.
The Roosters co-captain was caught on camera by a fellow partygoer forcing a woman to kiss him at the party before saying “I want to f****n’ root animals and that”.
Pearce, 26, had earlier posted photographs on Instagram of himself and Roosters teammates heading out for a harbour cruise following an early morning training session.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson had given the players the green light to let their hair down by telling them they did not need to report for training the following morning.
But by the evening of Australia Day the effects of the partying were clearly on display at a gathering in a packed unit where the shirtless Origin half back was filmed staggering around the living room.
Pearce kissed a woman who pushed him away and told him she was a “lesbian”.
The drunken footballer then told her he did not have any preferred sexuality and said: “I want to root your dog.”
He picked up the small white poodle and sat on the couch to simulate sex with the dog before the outraged woman pulled it off his lap.
Pearce, the son of former Australian test player Wayne Pearce, was filmed wearing khaki shorts and the dark stain where he had wet himself was clearly visible.
“I want to f*** your dog and I don’t even care,” Pearce tells the woman as she pulls the dog off him again.
“I care, you have peed on my couch, you have peed on yourself, get the f*** out,” the woman tells him.
“That’s the last straw.”
Partygoers appeared to be attempting to create confusion over Pearce’s identity with one asking him if he was player Blake Ferguson, who received a two year good behaviour bond for a sexual assault.
Pearce says: “Exactly” before the partygoer shouts out that he is “Sam” from Redfern.
The irate hostess then tells him: “I don’t care. It’s not Redfern. We are not claiming land rights here, you can get out.”
The RSPCA says the footage of Mitchell Pearce simulating sex with a dog is appalling but the organisation won’t be seeking charges.
“The RSPCA doesn’t believe any specific offences were committed,” RSPCA NSW chief inspector David O’Shannessy said.
He said the Roosters captain shouldn’t be excused for his drunken antics and there was no excuse for animal cruelty.
“I struggle with the fact someone (who) behaves like this is considered a role model,” Mr O’Shannessy said.
“The RSPCA, like the general public, were appalled by Mitchell Pearce’s behaviour.
Speaking this morning Roosters coach Trent Robinson said the club would not stand for the kind of behaviour displayed by Pearce in the video but stopped short of outlining what punishments would be meted out.
“We the Sydney Roosters have found Mitchell’s behaviour was unacceptable and that is why he has been stood down,” Robinson said.
“I know people will have their views but this is between us and the NRL to review.”
Meanwhile, the NRL’s adviser on women’s issues, Catharine Lumby, called for Pearce’s career to be ended.
Professor Lumby, who has worked pro bono with the NRL for a decade, said Pearce’s actions were aimed at harassing the woman in the video.
“I think he should be stood aside. I think this should be the end of his career,” Prof Lumby said.
“I think you should not be able to get away with this. He’s a high profile athlete, it just sends the wrong message and the NRL has to continue to show leadership on this issue.”
Lumby said she believed the act with the dog was aimed at harassing the woman in the video.
“I think the whole thing was a form of harassment and disrespect towards the woman,” Lumby said.
“She was asking him to leave he attempted to kiss her in a fairly aggressive manner from what I can see. The behaviour with the dog was aimed at her.”
It followed a statement Pearce’s club yesterday as news of the scandal broke:
“The Sydney Roosters are aware of an incident involving Mitchell Pearce. The Club has advised the NRL’s Integrity Unit.
“The Club will conduct an internal investigation and will be making no further comment at this time.”
The NRL also issued a statement, asking the Sydney Roosters club for a report into the incident, after the club informed the NRL.
“The Integrity Unit will work with the Roosters to ensure the matter is dealt with appropriately,” a NRL spokesman said.
This morning the RSPCA confirmed it was investigating the incident.
“RSPCA NSW is appalled by footage showing NRL player Mitchell Pearce engaging in a lewd act with a dog,” it tweeted on Thursday. “RSPCA NSW is investigating and anyone with additional information is urged to call 1300 CRUELTY”
It is not the first time Pearce has been in trouble. He was suspended from one Roosters NRL match and fined $20,000 in 2014 after lunging at a woman in a yellow dress at the Beach Haus nightclub in Kings Cross.
The woman involved, Melissa Arroja, later posted on social media her distress at the incident and police investigation, which was closed without charges. An internal Roosters investigation told Pearce to attend a counselling course.
The incident, which eyewitnesses said also involved Pearce dancing on a bench while a team mate stuck $100 bills to his forehead, led Pearce to issue a public apology.
“I want to say sorry to my parents,” he said.
“I let them down, I embarrassed them. They have had to wear the brunt the last couple of days which has been hard for them.
“Also my girlfriend who is obviously my biggest supporter and who has copped this the hardest. It’s not fair on her.
“Hopefully we can work through things.
“I will take this as a learning curve and work on my leadership. I’m obviously not where I feel I need to be. It is a good kick up the backside for me.”
Not big enough. At the end of last year Pearce attended the Dally M Awards ceremony alone amid reports he and Phoebe Carpenter, his long-suffering girlfriend of five years had split.
Ms Carpenter had stuck by him despite his well-publicised flings with Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts and American Playboy model Ciara Price.
Last year it looked like Pearce had his life on track. He was made co-captain of the Roosters with Jake Friend, who had been suspended from the club six years ago over a nightclub brawl.
The two had been photographed in The Rocks police station following the brawl in 2009 but Pearce escaped any charge. Today he will be wondering how many times his club will forgive him.
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