Tayla Harris slams ‘animals’, trolls after offensive comments were directed on incredible photo
The AFL has declared war on trolls after a stunning photo of Carlton superstar Tayla Harris was splashed with ugly online abuse. AFL integrity investigators could ban perpetrators and strip them of club memberships.
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The AFL has declared war on trolls after a stunning photo of Carlton superstar Tayla Harris in full flight became fodder for ugly online abuse.
The hunt for those responsible for the cruel invective is set to become a “watershed moment” for Australian sport, as some of the biggest names in football, entertainment and politics have called for tighter online controls to combat abuse.
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AFL integrity unit investigators are to join forces with Channel 7’s social media platforms in an attempt to identify the perpetrators, who could be banned from games and stripped of their club memberships.
Harris admitted she had felt concerned for her safety.
“I genuinely considered they (the trolls) might show up at the footy. And if they are thinking this way, what are they going to do when I’m on the sidelines meeting kids?” Harris said.
“That’s the reality of it.
“These people need to be called out by the AFL, yes. But also (it has to be) taken further — maybe this is the start of domestic violence, maybe this is the start of abuse.
“The comments … (were) repulsive, and it made me uncomfortable,” she said.
The trolling controversy comes only days after the live-streaming of the Christchurch terrorist attack prompted calls from around the world for digital media companies to better moderate online content.
Harris was subjected to the vile comments after the photo was posted by Channel 7 across its social media sites at the weekend.
On Wednesday, the broadcaster admitted its decision to remove the photo, rather than the comments, from social media had been a mistake.
Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals. pic.twitter.com/68aBVVbTTj
— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) March 19, 2019
A spokeswoman said the network had removed the photo to try to put an end to the slew of abuse on Facebook but it had been unable to moderate comments on Twitter.
“Our prime concern has always been Tayla Harris,” she said. “Once we knew what her attitude was towards the photo we were able to reinstate it.”
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the abuse wasn’t simply a problem for the league’s broadcast partner.
“It’s more a challenge with the platform, social media, because this is not an isolated incident. There’s negativity in lots of aspects of our game and the community, but when it’s unacceptable commentary, more and more people are calling that out, and that is what has happened here,” he said.
Social media analysis by Storyful revealed Harris’s name was mentioned 8,212 times following her goal against Western Bulldogs, with the words “great” (957 times) and “amazing” (610) used alongside it. Some 99.79 per cent of the activity relating to Harris took place on Twitter.
‘I’M REALLY PROUD OF HER’: COACH
Harris was training with her teammates at Ikon Park on Wednesday night as the Blues prepare for Saturday’s preliminary final against Fremantle.
Coach Daniel Harford said he’s proud of the way the star forward has handled the situation.
“Tayla has handled herself unbelievably over the last 48 hours and all she wants to do now is worry about getting herself right for Saturday’s game,” he said.
“I’m really proud of her and the way she’s carried herself but like the rest of us, we’re all business from here on in.”
Harford, who took over as Carlton’s AFLW coach this season, said the “mature male population” must take lessons from this.
“It’s a conversation that continues to have to happen, that’s what it needs to represent,” he said on AFL360.
“Tayla said it herself this morning that it’s become more than about her, it’s a bigger picture than that, it’s so much bigger than that and we, the mature male population seem to be the problem at the moment, so we need to have more education and more understanding of what these things can do to people and how it affects people.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable.”
AFLW trailblazer Susan Alberti called the attack “sickening” and “disgusting”, and urged the AFL and media to step up the fight against it.
“This sort of thing should never happen to any man or woman,” Ms Alberti said. “Nobody should have to put up with these trolls, who hide behind screens.”
Harris’s manager, Alex Saundry, said she had been able to use the controversy as a vehicle for change. “She feels empowered. If she can help create change and put a spotlight on the issue, she will.”
Adelaide’s Erin Phillips, considered the AFLW’s best player, was among a chorus of athletes from many sports to voice dismay, saying: “There needs to be more accountability with people that do have (social media) accounts.”
She suggested that perhaps drivers’ licences should be attached to online profiles.
Retired netball star Liz Ellis urged that more be done to protect our elite athletes.
“It will only be a watershed moment if people continue to call this sort of stuff out,” she said. “It is a long and exhausting process, and sports have to do it, the public has to do it, and the media has to do it.
“It is a massive undertaking but the groundswell around this issue gives me great heart.
“Sport is a great platform for change.”
It is understood the AFL can ban or block repeat offenders or comments from fake accounts. The worst culprits are referred to the AFL integrity unit. AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said players received social media training, but “it’s not the players who need training”.
Premier Daniel Andrews was among the political leaders to speak out, sharing side-by-side photos of Harris and footy legend EJ Whitten with the words “just two people doing their job”.
Collingwood forward Maxon Cox has thrown his support behind Harris and while he acknowledges the positive impact social media can have, he said it also provides a platform for those who shouldn’t have a voice.
“It’s quite frustrating I think as a player, we’re better than that,” Cox said.
“I’ve been in this country for five years and I’ve met some amazing people and there’s still some amazing people out there, so I think the word is probably frustrating.
“It’s what social media is - there’s positives to it, it connects people, it makes people come together for amazing things but also it gives a voice to people that shouldn’t really have a voice.”
Cox said the focus should now be on how the AFL and wider community has come together in support of Harris rather than those who made the derogatory comments.
“It’s frustrating but ... we can’t focus on these negative things. I think the positive thing from it is the fact that the media has got behind her, supported her and what she’s bringing to the forefront,” he said on The Footy Show.
“I think that’s what we need to focus on, the fact that we don’t accept that (negativity). We’re better than that and we’ll move forward from it.”
Harris’s manager Alex Saundry said the Carlton forward is not unused to backlash on social media for what happens on the field but that she has been shocked by the sexual nature of the latest comments.
“The comments and trolls, she has faced that with some of her performances, but not the sexual part. She’s used to people having an opinion on what she does but not used to being offended so disgustingly as she was. She was hurt by it,” Saundry said.
She said while Harris is disappointed by the troll’s comments she has been heartened by the overwhelming groundswell of support and the fact it has led to a broader conversation around the way female athletes are treated.
“It’s disappointing and disgusting but it’s created a conversation around an issue people had trouble addressing,” Saundry said.
“There’s been an amazing swell of important people in the industry and the wider public who have gone absolutely nuts standing behind her.
“Tayla has been able to have a voice and use this as a platform to drive change. She feels empowered. If she can help create change and put a spotlight on the issue she will.”
Saundry said Channel 7’s decision to remove the photo was disappointing.
“I understand their want and intention to remove the post, but there’s not enough education to bring to light the people who made those comments. Hopefully they will be a bit smarter about it next time.”
SUPPORT FLOWS FROM AFLW STARS
Fellow AFLW star Sharni Layton was equally outraged and vocal about the cowards posting vile comments and called for the AFL to revoke memberships where names matched.
Also speaking on RSN, the Collingwood player said: “I’m furious, I’m not going to swear but I’m so proud of Tayla for the way she has stood up,
“There are not a lot of people that have the ovaries to stand up and do that when it could create something that continues on.
“Standing up for yourself proves what is right. We’re passionate people and I’m so glad she posted this.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/fpMp9vlOY6
— Hannah Mouncey 🤾â€â™€ï¸ (@HannahMouncey) March 19, 2019
“Enough is enough of this trolling. At the start I think I was soft on it, I’m not OK with people jumping on, get a life. Tay is standing up. We need twitter to stand up, block these people, Facebook block these people.
“Show these people some respect, AFL stand up and don’t stand for it. Find these people, if they have a membership revoke it.
“Standing up for what is right is more important than any money. I’m not standing for it any more I’m not staying silent on this.
“Tay is standing up for people that don’t have the voice. You people that do it it’s not good enough get a life.”
Channel 7 caused further outrage when they removed the image of Harris which they later explained was because of the “reprehensible” comments attached.
The station was widely criticised before later reinstating the image and apologising.
Last night Channel 7’s social account explained their decision to remove the post.
“Recently we published an image of AFLW player Tayla Harris. The original purpose in publishing the image was to celebrate the power, athleticism and skills on show in Carlton’s thrilling win over the Western Bulldogs,” the message read.
Hours later the image was reinstated with the following message:
“We’re sorry. Removing the photo sent the wrong message.
“Many of the comments made on the post were reprehensible & we’ll work harder to ban trolls from our pages.”
The photo was from the second AFLW Pride game between the Bulldogs and the Blues with Carlton winning 6.5 (41) to 5.8 (38).
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Matildas star Sam Kerr and ex-AFLW footballer Meg Hutchins were among many frustrated at Seven’s decision to remove the picture.
“THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE PHOTO”, Kerr posted.
Hutchins meanwhile said: “Absolutely disgusting — 7 AFL you really should be taking a stand reporting these guys for offensive comments. Enough is enough!!!”
Herald Sun columnist Darcy Vescio said: “Deleting the post is giving in to trolls. Also, you’re eliminating all the positive conversation. Also, you’re removing more content around women in sport — which there’s already so little of.
“It’s up to everyone to moderate hate.”
It echoes her sentiments in a column she wrote for us not long ago about the impact of trolling.
“When the AFLW season is in full swing it inevitably coincides with trolling and I often get asked how I handle reading and hearing demeaning comments,” she wrote.
“Mostly, I talk about the importance of staying level — not getting caught up in the highs but also not allowing the negativity to get me down.
“It’s easy to say ‘don’t worry about the haters, there are plenty of people who love what you’re doing’.
The picture, taken by AFL photographer Michael Willson, shows Harris in the motion of kicking and her incredible athleticism.
Deleting the post is giving in to trolls. Also, you’re eliminating all the positive conversation. Also, you’re removing more content around women in sport - which there’s already so little of.
— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) March 19, 2019
It’s up to everyone to moderate hate.#taylaharris
📷 @MichaelCWillson pic.twitter.com/CRkYDrZpQK
We're sorry. Removing the photo sent the wrong message.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 19, 2019
Many of the comments made on the post were reprehensible & we'll work harder to ban trolls from our pages.
Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we'll continue to celebrate women's footy. pic.twitter.com/p24Ll08LRC
ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ™ðŸ» https://t.co/kGkEJmYNi4
— Anna Meares (@AnnaMeares) March 19, 2019
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