‘It has to stop. Enough is enough’: Erin Molan’s challenge to NRL on domestic violence

“ENOUGH is enough.” Footy Show host Erin Molan was close to tears last night when she tackled a tough issue.

FOOTY Show host Erin Molan says it’s time for the NRL to “walk the walk” in its stance against domestic violence, saying “enough is enough”.

Molan’s emotional and steely on-air challenge came last night in the wake of news the ex-partner of troubled Parramatta player Semi Radradra had applied for an apprehended violence order against the star winger, accusing him of assaulting her over a period of eight months last year.

Wrapping a news item on the issue on The Footy Show, Molan took a breath, looked down the barrel of the camera, and launched.

“I just want to say something here, because I feel really strongly about this, and I want to preface it by saying that the presumption of innocence 100 per cent should be afforded to Semi because he does deserve that, these are only allegations at this stage,” she said.

“But if this is proven to be true, and our game does not take an incredibly tough, strong stance against this, then we are condoning domestic violence.

“We are saying to every kid, every teenager, every man out there that it is OK to be violent against women.

“We cannot support White Ribbon as a code and we cannot support domestic violence awareness, raise money for all these great causes if we’re not going to walk the walk.

“It has to stop. It’s enough.”

NRL Footy Showco-host Fatty Vautin offers a hand of support as Molan delivers her passionate monologue. Picture: Channel Nine

As the rest of The Footy Show panel responded with a round of “well said” and the studio audience applauded, and Molan shook her head, and continued her passionate monologue: “It’s too … it’s too much.”

“The victims of domestic violence live with the impact of being hurt physically for the rest of their lives,” she continued.

“It is not … it doesn’t matter if you’re a superstar, or you’re on big money or you’re a really big deal. It is not OK, ever.”

A huge shout out for @Erin_Molan for her passionate, emotional monologue on #domesticviolence tonight on @NRLFootyShow. Well said Erin.

— Steve Burton (@Lecturer_Steve) June 29, 2016

In support, co-host Paul Vautin, sitting next to Molan on the panel, put a hand on her arm in support, and picked up the topic.

“I can’t understand, I couldn’t think of anything worse in the world than a man raising arms against a woman. It defies belief. Well said,” Vautin said.

Molan wrapped her passionate speech with “and as we said, presumption of innocence, but … fingers crossed that it turns out to be better than we hoped”.

Molan’s comments received immediate social media reaction, with many applauding her stance as “well-timed”, “overdue” and “powerful”, and praised her “passionate, emotional monologue”.

Molan tweeted it was an issue “close to my heart”.

@BuzzRothfield @NRLFootyShow @WhiteRibbonAust thanks Buzz xxx really close to my heart x

— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) June 29, 2016

Originally published as ‘It has to stop. Enough is enough’: Erin Molan’s challenge to NRL on domestic violence