Backlash flares over Lisa Wilkinson’s netball comment

Popular TV host Lisa Wilkinson and her husband are facing a social media backlash as the script flips in netball’s swirling scandal.

Lisa Wilkinson has been criticised for comments made about the swirling furore surrounding Netball’s sponsorship furore.

The popular TV host is facing a social media backlash after entering the frenzied debate that has followed mining giant Hancock Prospecting’s decision to rip up a $15 million deal supporting the Diamonds national team.

Watch the best in world netball as Origin Australian Diamonds face England Roses in the England Series Wednesday 7:30 PM AEST Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Wilkinson this week lashed claims from Hancock Prospecting boss Gina Rinehart after Australia’s richest woman declared the sport should not have become engaged in “virtue-signalling” or “to be used as the vehicle for social or political causes”.

Wilkinson slammed any suggestion sport can be kept separate from politics.

Watch the best in world netball as Origin Australian Diamonds face England Roses in the England Series Wednesday 7:30 PM AEST Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >

“The idea that sport and politics and issues of social justice can be completely separated is really naive,” she said on Network 10’s The Project.

“You think back to the Australian teams that wouldn’t tour South Africa during the Apartheid era. You even think about things like big tobacco used to sponsor the NRL. It was called the Winfield Cup.”

Lisa Wilkinson was not having it. Photo: Darrion Traynor, Getty Images.

The divisive issue has now twisted towards Wilkinson’s comments with leading TV entertainment journalist Peter Ford suggesting Wilkinson should back up her comments with action.

The Channel 7 reporter also took a shot at Wilkinson’s husband, former rugby player Peter FitzSimons.

“Lisa and Pete should kickstart a fund to replace the $15 million if she’s that concerned,” Ford posted on Twitter on Tuesday.

The comment attracted tweets from many other Twitter users with suggestions the high-profile media pair could pull together $15 million to hand over to Netball Australia.

That backlash follows a stream of angry reactions from social commentators on Monday.

Australian politician Jacinta Price took aim at “selfish” athletes while declaring Rinehart shouldn’t be condemned over the words of her father.

Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock, who founded the mining giant, is at the centre of the messy affair.

Indigenous netball star Donnell Wallam was at the centre of a player pushback against Hancock Prospecting branding appearing on the uniform of the Diamonds.

Wallam is getting ready to make her international debut for Australia on Wednesday night against England.

Diamonds teammates are reported to have given Wallam their full support after revelations she was uncomfortable wearing a dress that featured a Hancock Prospecting logo.

The 28-year-old’s concerns revolve around comments made by Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock in the 1980s that sterilisation should be used to solve ‘the Aboriginal problem’.

Gina Rinehart has never made any public comments on her late father’s views.

South Australian radio host Andrew Costello was another commentator to have also flipped the script back onto those commentators calling for Rinehart to apologise.

On Facebook, Costello accused the team of “spitting in (Rinehart’s) face”.

He said Rinehart sponsored his own charity Cows for Cambodia.

Hancock Prospecting Group executive chairman and Australian Olympic supporter Gina Rinehart.

“She’s the richest woman in Australia but still had the time for our little charity,” he wrote.

“She was attracted by her love for the cattle industry and helped us to no end. Never once asking for anything in return.

“She was kind enough to spend $15 million sponsoring this netball team. She didn’t have to. She chose to help them. Then a few don’t like mining so they crack the s****s.

“You’d think a group of ladies would embrace and welcome a successful business woman like Gina. Instead they spat in her face.

“Gina will find someone more grateful to accept her money. I feel sorry for her. She was doing this because she wanted to help.

“To the team members that got the s***s. You’ve won. You’ve lost the sponsor. But at what cost to the rest of the team or the sport? Time will tell.

“I wonder are those that got the s**** using any products that are derived from mining? I bet they are. Of course they are. Crazy!”

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce also entered the debate, suggesting the Aussie netballers have been left looking “ungrateful”.

“How about saying thank you rather than, I don’t want (the money)?” he told Sunrise on Monday.

“You’ve got $15 million of somebody else’s money that’s been given to you … Now the money is gone, guess what, we haven’t got the money to pay our players and to cover the financial situation that Netball Australia finds itself in.”

Australian Diamonds player Firebirds Donnell Wallam in Brisbane, Friday, April 22, 2022 - Picture: Richard Walker