Anthony Mundine vows no more trash talk, gay slurs or racist rants

NO more trash talk. No more rants. No more gay slurs. This is Anthony Mundine 2.0: The Changed Man. The outspoken boxer and activist says the backlash against his anti-gay comment in February had made him take stock of his life.

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NO more trash talk. No more rants. No more gay slurs.

This is Anthony Mundine 2.0: The Changed Man.

A kind man. At least off the sporting field.

The outspoken boxer and activist says the backlash against his anti-gay comments in February has made him take stock of his life.

He said one of his cousins, a homosexual, was left distressed by his comment that capital punishment for gays would make them think twice about their actions.

Anthony Mundine says he had become a changed man since his anti-gay comments he made in February. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“One of my cousins messaged me on Facebook and said, ‘What are you doing?’ — having a go at me,” Mundine said. “I was trying to explain myself and I told him even though I don’t agree with what you do, I love you for who you are, I respect whatever you are.

“Sometimes my delivery is not the best. I probably said it in a harmful way, and I don’t want to be harmful, I want to be kind.

“I have gay friends and family members who were upset by my comments, they were hurt, and it hurt me to see them hurt.

He is an outspoken boxer who has had some controversial views. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Munoz

“I apologised to them individually and I apologise to everyone I hurt.

“I’m not going to shy away from my stance and beliefs but at the same time I’m not going to do it in a negative way.

“I don’t judge you because you are gay, I am not the creator. If a gay person treats me with respect I would do nothing but the same.

“I have gay friends. I would even go as far as to say that if anyone was to say disrespectful things towards them in my company I would pull them up.”

His stint on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! shone the spotlight on him, but it was what he said after his elimination that left people gobsmacked. Picture: Supplied

When he was competing on the reality television show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! four months ago, Mundine said: “If we were to live in a society, just like in Aboriginal culture, (where) homosexuality is forbidden and you do it and the consequences are capital punishment or death, you think, ‘are you going to do it?’ Or think twice about doing it?”

Asked if he meant gays should be executed, he ­replied: “The paedophiles mainly, hang them suckers and let’s see if they have the balls to do it again.”

Mundine, no stranger to outlandish statements, dec­lared he is now taking a more cautious approach to his public comments.

“In the past I have been portrayed as the villain and I’ve run with it because I was caught up in it. But it’s not who I am,” he said.

“I realise I have a big voice and platform and I want to use it positively.”

Mundine says he now thinks twice before commenting. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Yet the change of tune is likely to cost Mundine money. He has made millions of dollars as a boxing villain, with many Australians paying for his fights just to watch him get beaten.

As Mundine enters negotiations for a bout against ­Brisbane’s Jeff Horn, his decision not to inflame the public will make it slightly more difficult to market the fight as Good vs Bad.

“Look, I’m still going to be the competitive, trash-talking Choc if that fight happens.

“Jeff Horn is facing The Man now, not a boy, but that’s just within sport,” Mundine said.

“Issues outside of sport I’m more wise about, I am more educated and circumspect and understanding of others’ opinions.

“I just want people to understand me better. I love everyone.”