Erin Molan tears up in emotional radio interview

Wearing dark glasses because she’d barely slept the night before, Channel 9 star Erin Molan was in tears during a hard-to-watch interview.

Erin Molan has been left in tears during an “emotional” live radio interview on Thursday.

The Channel 9 star is still in the middle of an ugly trolling storm following revelations on Sunday she has fallen out with TV colleague and rugby league legend Andrew Johns.

The Sunday Telegraph first reported Johns removed himself from the network’s Friday night rugby league coverage because of his work relationship breakdown with Molan.

Reports of a rift between the star presenter Molan and the NRL immortal have continued this week despite denials from Nine.

The Daily Telegraph reports a “feud” between Molan and Nine colleague Johns dates back to 2017 when she replaced Paul “Fatty” Vautin as host of The Footy Show.

Molan has reportedly been the victim of “disgusting” and “inexcusable” trolling since the story broke this week.

Molan addressed her incredibly difficult week during an interview with 101.7 WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda on Thursday where she revealed she wore sunglasses because she had been unable to sleep the night before.

“I am so sorry, I haven’t put my contacts in this morning. I had a rough night. I didn’t sleep very well and these are prescriptions,” Molan said.

Erin Molan holds hands with Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller.

Breakfast radio duo Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller — who have had Molan on as a weekly guest for several years — joined the widespread movement of support for Molan — and their outreach of care left the Nine presenter in tears, needing to dab at her eyes with some tissues.

“I get emotional with this Erin, I don’t understand why people give you a hard time,” Keller said as her voice cracked under emotional strain.

“It pisses me off. And I think it’s because you are so professional and you are so good at your job, that I think that men don’t like you being good at what they still see as their world. I admire the pants off you or the eyeballs off you and I just think you are the most professional female and it’s threatened everybody.”

Keller also needed to reach for the tissues after seeing Molan become overcome at the kind words.

“And I just think in a few years time people will look back — same as the Adam Goodes thing — and think what did we do to her,” Keller said.

“Why did we do that? All strength to you Erin. You’re an amazing woman and I hate that you’re going though this.”

Keller also said: “Your daughter would be so proud of you. You’re breaking the glass ceiling for a generation”.

When Keller finished her statement the three stars all held hands together across the radio desk. Molan had to go back with the tissues and wipe away more tears. “I’m glad I wore the glasses now,” Molan said.

Andrew Johns has been missing from Channel 9’s Friday Night Rugby League.

Clearly distracted by the live interview, Molan didn’t realised she’d accidentally placed a used tissue in Keller’s hand as they went back to holding hands.

“You know what’s awkward. You’ve just put a wet tissue in my hand,” Keller said, accidentally blabbing to listeners that Molan had been crying in the studio.

Molan responded: “Oh, sorry. What do you mean wet? You’ve just confessed that I was crying.”

The emotional words from Keller and Jones followed powerful social media statements from Australian television colleagues, including Nine star Sylvia Jeffreys.

The list of reasons why I admire @Erin_Molan is too long for twitter. But in summary, she’s damn good at her job. A hard working class act. And Nine’s NRL coverage is richer for her perspective.

— Sylvia Jeffreys (@SylviaJeffreys) October 2, 2019

💯 A true professional and a beautiful human. She has cheered me on, encouraged, counselled and made me laugh through many tough moments, even when she had her own full plate. Lucky to call you my friend and colleague @Erin_Molan https://t.co/3imnBvs6zg

— Amelia Adams (@AmeliaAdams9) October 1, 2019

When it comes to champion people and broadcasters @Erin_Molan is top of the list. Professional. Hard working. Gives her all. I’m honoured to call her a colleague and a friend.

— deborah knight (@deborah_knight) October 1, 2019

Well said!

— Corey Parker (@Coreyjparker13) October 1, 2019

Erin Molan, we applaud you for your incredible NRL commentary. You don't deserve any of this. @Erin_Molan

Read More 👉 https://t.co/gfCmENyEh6 pic.twitter.com/AZjT9t2vjL

— Jonesy & Amanda (@JonesyandAmanda) October 2, 2019

Intense public interest in the story has seen Molan attacked on social media.

Thank you lovely X

— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) September 30, 2019

She thanked fellow sport reporter Riana Crehan — who described the trolling as “disgusting” and “inexcusable” — for her support on Monday evening.

Ex-Brisbane Broncos star turned Fox Sports NRL analyst Corey Parker added “well said!” in reply to Crehan’s tweet.

All I will say is that if anyone has a problem with @Erin_Molan than the problem is with them. Erin is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and an amazing person.

— Robert McKnight (@rob_mcknight) October 1, 2019

Former Footy Show star and Molan’s co-host Beau Ryan on Tuesday exclusively told The Daily Telegraph it is “bulls***” for trolls to blame the reporter for the decisions of Nine management.

Ryan says in the report he saw Molan left “broken” after years of social media trolling.

“That’s what happens to these reality stars … they get on there and think everything’s going to be rosy and then they get trolled and can get really down and dark. I saw that happen to Erin,” Ryan said.

“She’s got a journalism background, she’s done nothing wrong and been trolled for her looks or what she’s done or said, or the show she’s working on, or the team she supports. And it took a toll on her.”

Johns, an NRL immortal and one of Nine’s top analysts, disappeared from the network’s Friday night coverage this season in what’s been suggested was a direct result of not wanting to work with Molan.

Nine claims it was a selfless move by the Newcastle Knights legend to hand an opportunity to Billy Slater in his first year post-retirement.