AFL journalist Tom Morris breaks silence on scandal: ‘I deserved to be sacked’

AFL journalist Tom Morris has broken his silence on the scandal that cost him his job, but the timing of his comments left many outraged.

Former AFL journalist Tom Morris has broken his silence on the scandal that cost him his job a year ago, declaring he “deserved to be sacked” by Fox Footy.

Morris was sacked last March after audio of him making offensive comments about then Fox Sports colleague Megan Barnard was leaked to social media.

His sacking in the opening week of last year’s AFL season was one of the biggest scandals of the year.

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Morris copped an extraordinary personal attack from Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge in a post-game press conference after the season opener over a team selection story Morris reported.

Beveridge apologised the following day, but the exchange was overshadowed by the leaking of the offensive Morris audio on WhatsApp.

A second clip featuring homophobic and racist slurs also emerged on social media before Morris was eventually sacked by Fox Footy last March.

Morris apologised for his comments at the time, describing them as “disgusting and disgraceful”.

Now he has spoken publicly for the first time about the scandal, taking full responsibility for his actions and detailing his regrets as he nears a return to the media.

“It’s not something I’ll be able to live down,” Morris told the Don’t Shoot the Messenger podcast.

Tom Morris was sacked by Fox Footy over offensive comments. Picture: Ian Currie

“I’m deeply ashamed of what happened.

“I can’t be clear enough. I deserved to be sacked.”

Morris, 31, said his offensive comments were a symptom of the “warped world” he lived in, and he’s since undertaken “ongoing education … to adequately educate myself to become a respectful normal adult”.

“I thought I was one of the good guys … men who are heterosexual and white like me often think we are the good guys and, in fact, we don’t know what we don’t know. I turned a blind eye … I was selfish, and I ignored it for a decade,” he said.

Morris said he had tried to get in touch with Barnard but had received no response from the Fox Sports presenter.

“She doesn’t owe me anything,” he said.

“It’s not up to her to make me feel right. I’m always going to feel guilty and shameful for what I put her through.”

Tom Morris has broken his silence.

Morris made offensive comments about then colleague Megan Barnard. Picture: Toby Zerna

Morris said he doesn’t know who leaked the offensive clips of him on WhatsApp and he has no interest in finding out.

“The Western Bulldogs were not responsible (for the leaks),” he said.

“It would never have come out if I had not had those thoughts in my head.

“If the public sentiment is that I can never get a full-time job again then I’m completely prepared for that mentally because I’ve only got myself to blame.

“This is no one else’s fault, I’m not bitter at anyone … so many people were so hurt by what I did.”

Morris said he had been regularly abused on the street but was most sorry for the consequences his comments had on his family.

Morris is nearing a return to the media. Photo: Don’t Shoot The Messenger.

A year after his sacking, Morris is poised to return to the media landscape for the upcoming AFL season.

He will co-host the pre-game program Sunday Crunchtime on radio station SEN with friend and former Fox Footy colleague Sarah Olle.

Media mogul and owner of SEN, Craig Hutchison, said last month Morris “absolutely deserves a second chance”.

The timing of the podcast’s release and an accompanying story by veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson in The Age on International Women’s Day, was widely criticised.

We could’ve platformed Megan Barnard today but sure, let’s give Tom Morris more airtime he absolutely does not deserve.

— lavender baj (@lavosaurus) March 8, 2023

happy #IWD2023, ladies. as a treat, here's a reminder that cis straight white men who are caught making sexist & homophobic comments still get to come back to cushy jobs in sports media, which majority of you are structurally and culturally excluded from. enjoy! 😘

— Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur) March 8, 2023

The Age’s Marnie Vinall tweeted: “I’ve been vocal how I feel about redemption arcs before, and today sure doesn’t feel like the day for them in sports media imo, idk.”

ESPN’s Steve Smith said: “Ok I get giving people second chances. I get that he might be truly remorseful. But … sending out this story today. Really? Couldn’t wait 12 hours?”

Sports journalist Megan Hustwaite posted: “Oh and a happy #IWD2023 to the colleague who’s personal life and privacy was violated. Who continues to be reminded of it during redemption and comeback tours.”