Sam Newman’s apology nullified by invoking ‘political correctness’

BY invoking the tired old chestnut of ‘political correctness’, Sam Newman showed his apology was as sincere as a sick day after a long weekend, writes Justin Smith.

IF Sam Newman is going to continue to draw a stipend for doing his tired old act, can he at least be consistent?

Last night on the AFL Footy Show, he gave an apology that was as sincere as a sick day after a long weekend.

He was trying to say sorry for describing Caitlyn Jenner — a transgender member of the human race — as an “it”.

It was a low point in a career that’s probably going to be remembered for far more of the lows than high.

It was an appalling display. The word was terrible, so was the set up for Newman from Billy Brownless, and the lack of condemnation from the others on the panel.

There were positive things to come out it. Thankfully, the rest of the footy community — and beyond — knew how to react, and Sam got belted all over the place for using a weak chance at a gag to make other people feel less than him.

It showed that people no longer copped this kind of bullying. And it just added to Newman’s image of a person who seems to think if you’re not watching footy, playing footy, talking footy, or you’re a sheila to shag, then you’re an “it”.

But then he gave an apology at the start of the show last night.

Talking through a dry and nervous mouth, Newman sad he “can’t apologise any more” and that he had now been “enlightened”.

Sam Newman’s gross slur against Caitlyn Jenner, and all transgender people, was rightly howled down by people within and outside footy. (Pic: Supplied)

The apology sounded as cliched as his normal routine.

And then he tried to blame his co-hosts for not stopping before he got to the correct term for a transgender person.

What a total pile of monkey dung.

So which is it, Sam? Did you know the term but were cut off before you got it out, or were you wrong and now “enlightened”?

By association, Newman dropped the IQ of anyone watching by at least 10 per cent with his statement. I only hope they all recover.

But worse than the insincerity, and cowardly act of blame, he then blew the entire apology to hell with inconsistency.

Later in the show, Newman started responding to Geelong’s Pat Dangerfield, who had called Sam “irrelevant” after the Jenner comments.

That’s when Sam said that he was “not understanding the era of political correctness we now live in”

Ah, there it is. So, nothing wrong with the comments then, just that the era changed around him when he wasn’t looking?

Newman is now just one of those people who blame “political correctness” for stopping them from saying what they want. And if they drop something that’s deeply damaging and hurtful, they can dismiss it as not their problem, but a problem of the era.

I think it was the bit of the apology he really wanted to say at the start of the show, but then managed to slide it into later.

Melbourne loves its footy. May that never change. Melbourne hates a bully. May that never change. And Melbourne can smell bull**** from five-kilometres away. And that won’t change, Sam.

Justin Smith is a 3AW presenter.

@justinsmith3AW