Nicky Winmar settles dispute with Sam Newman and podcast co-hosts after mediation
Following St Kilda champion Nicky Winmar’s highly emotional dispute with Sam Newman, Mike Sheahan and Don Scott, new details have emerged on the resolution made to end the conflict.
Page 13
Don't miss out on the headlines from Page 13. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The legal stoush between Sam Newman, Don Scott and Mike Sheahan and St Kilda champ Nicky Winmar has been settled with a rumoured $100,000 donation to an indigenous charity along with a public apology.
After a marathon five-and-a-half hour mediation session in Melbourne on Friday, the parties came to a resolution that saw the two footy greats and respected journalist Sheahan issue a written apology to Winmar for comments on the You Cannot Be Serious podcast.
Sheahan, Scott and Newman are understood to have agreed to pay $100,000 in the form of a donation to an indigenous charity, most likely the Michael Long Foundation.
Two episodes of the podcast, where Winmar is mentioned, will be taken down. The apology will be included in Tuesday’s edition of the podcast.
“During our 23 June 2020 podcast, we talked about Nicky lifting his jumper and pointing to his skin at the end of the 1993 Collingwood and St Kilda match during which he had been racially abused,” the apology said.
“We acknowledge what Nicky did was an act of indigenous pride and defiance.
“It was also a powerful statement of solidarity for indigenous Australians who are subjected to racism and vilification.
“Any suggestion otherwise was wrong. We have reflected deeply on the issues. We understand many people would regard what we said as racially discriminatory of Nicky and indigenous Australians.
“For all these reasons, we sincerely apologise to Nicky Winmar and to indigenous Australians generally.”
Winmar and photographer Wayne Ludbey launched legal action late last week against AFL identities Newman, Sheahan and Scott who cast doubts that the champion Indigenous footballer was pointing to his skin because he was “proud to be black”.
The suggestion was he was pointing to his stomach in Ludbey’s iconic photograph to show St Kilda had won a match against Collingwood on “guts.”
Winmar and Ludbey engaged lawyer Leon Zwier of Arnold Bloch Leibler to pursue their legal options under defamation and racial vilification laws.
High-profile Indigenous Australian broadcaster Stan Grant attended the meeting as mediator along with former Federal Court judge and QC Ray Finkelstein.
An outraged Winmar told the Herald Sun last Friday the trio had painted him as a “liar” and that he was taking a stand.
“I know what I said. I am not a liar. These white fellas are tarnishing my legacy.”
On Tuesday, former Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan quit the controversial podcast, You Cannot Be Serious, after apologising for the hurt he had caused.
“The thing that worried me most is I definitely did hurt some people who I regard as football friends. Indigenous people, Indigenous players, who I have a healthy relationship with, they were hurt and angry,” Sheahan said.
The result comes hours after the men arrived at Collins St law firm Arnold Bloch Lieber ahead of the 1pm mediation hearing, Winmar, who was joined by Ludbey, described the action as being important for Indigenous people after an “emotional few weeks”.
“I am black and I’m proud and I want to thank the rest of Australia for supporting this … It’s good for our people,” he said.
“I was very disappointed [with the comments]. It’s been a very emotional few weeks.
“[Today] is very important. Not only for me but for my people.”
Newman and Scott arrived together for the hearing, dressed in suits and donning masks and gloves as they walked into the CBD firm.
When asked if he wanted the issue to be resolved, Mr Newman responded: “What do you reckon?”.
Former Herald Sun chief football writer Sheahan arrived separately to Newman and Scott, walking straight into the Collins St premises.
MORE PAGE 13
PORN STAR’S GRIM MELBOURNE TRIP BEFORE ALLEGED RAPES