AFLW star Tayla Harris trolled over kick photo with social media backlash after it was taken down

Channel 7 has apologised after it posted a photograph of AFL women’s player Tayla Harris that was mercilessly attacked by online trolls.

Channel 7 has come under fire from fans and stars across the sporting world after removing a picture from its AFL Twitter account due to vile comments from internet trolls.

A picture of Carlton Blues AFLW star Tayla Harris kicking during her side’s final round match against the Western Bulldogs attracted “inappropriate and offensive” comments.

The Blues star is seen at full stretch in her follow through.

What a photo. Picture: Michael Wilson/AFL Media

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The 7AFL Twitter account removed the photo, replacing it with a message.

“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.

“The image attracted a number of comments, some of which were inappropriate and offensive. As a consequence we have removed the image and the comments.”

pic.twitter.com/9g76LaN9ZS

— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 19, 2019

The account reinstated the picture at 11.22pm with an apology.

“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.

“Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we’ll continue to celebrate women’s footy.”

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.

Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we'll continue to celebrate women's footy. pic.twitter.com/p24Ll08LRC

— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 19, 2019

But the initial move caught the eye of many sportspeople and fans in the community, turning on 7AFL for removing the picture.

Matildas star Sam Kerr summed up the issue many had with the decision to remove it from the Twitter account, arguing “the problem was not the photo”.

THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE PHOTO https://t.co/a48ueZgPcM

— Sam Kerr (@samkerr1) March 19, 2019

Kerr was not alone in her frustration with others furious at the move.

Ex-AFLW footballer Meg Hutchins said: “Absolutely disgusting — @7AFL you really should be taking a stand reporting these guys for offensive comments. Enough is enough!!!”

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.#taylaharris
📷 @MichaelCWillson pic.twitter.com/CRkYDrZpQK

— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) March 19, 2019

🙌🏻🙌🏻💪🏻💪🏻 #Fthehaters pic.twitter.com/wkaGFzncZ2

— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) March 19, 2019

On the day a former, recent AFL men’s player tried to take a shot at a retiring AFLW players achievements, one who will go down as a legend shows how real footballers stand up for not just the women’s game, but women in general https://t.co/oZZ8APEiZL

— Hannah Mouncey 🤾‍♀️ (@HannahMouncey) March 19, 2019

How this incredible image of Tayla Harris by Michael Willson was;
1- seen as negative and drew trolls to comment and
2- that the @7AFL took it down as a result...
ASTOUNDS ME!
So I’m sharing it proudly! #GoTaylaGo #womeninsport pic.twitter.com/ErrdVOwskI

— Anna Meares (@AnnaMeares) March 19, 2019

Of all the possible responses to the online denigration women face on a daily basis online, removing evidence of their contributions/skills/strength should be last on that list. I hope photos of @taylaharriss in full flight now flood our social media platforms. #taylaharris https://t.co/T1OV8ZfQX5

— Dr Kirstin Ferguson (@kirstinferguson) March 19, 2019

Delete the comments and shut down further comments.

Identify the trolls and boot them from https://t.co/a4WP1whhIG and matches.

Then quadruple the size of the image.

It isn’t difficult.

— Richard Ings (@ringsau) March 19, 2019

It’s even spawned a hashtag #gotaylago with pictures of Harris playing.

While Harris didn’t target the removal of the picture, she labelled the Twitter trolls as “animals”.

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

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).

It helped the Blues take out Conference B and sets up a match with Fremantle at Ikon Park on Saturday at 2.45pm for a chance to make the AFLW Grand Final.

Every game of the AFLW, including the AFLW finals, will be streamed on Kayo Sports from just $25 per month for two devices at once on Apple, Android and Telstra TV, for Apple and Google Android smartphones, on web browsers and via Google Chromecast Ultra devices. Click here for your free trial.

Tayla Harris is a star. Picture: Tara Croser.

But social media abuse is still rampant in the game with Harris’ teammate Darcy Vescio penning a piece in the Herald Sun in February.

“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’.

“But the truth is when I read comments like ‘get back in the kitchen’, I feel compelled to make a stand for all the women and young girls who don’t have the platform I do.”

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