Gay TikTok star calls on Manly to sack players in pride jersey boycott

A gay Australian TikTok star is calling on the Manly Sea Eagles to permanently stand down players involved in the pride jersey boycott.

A gay Melbourne TikTok star has called on the Manly Sea Eagles to permanently stand down players who refuse to wear the pride jersey in a now viral video.

Earlier this week seven rubgy league players sensationally vowed to boycott Thursday night’s clash against the Roosters because they refuse to wear the jersey – featuring rainbow stripes and trim.

Scott O’Halloran, who has 2.7 million TikTok followers with his brother Luke, wants the club to cut ties with them permanently.

“Now you go and chuck that jersey on and do your job or I’m asking your club to stand you down permanently for your outdated, your backwards and your homophobic views,” he said in the video.

“Because let’s be really f***ing clear here, it’s got nothing to do with religion. I have a lot of religious friends that do not have a problem with my sexuality at all.

“You’re a bigot and you’re a homophobe. And it would mean the world to me and the LGBTQI+ community if AFL players, people of faith, and NRL fans and players could reshare this and stand with my community and let us know that we are included in Australian sports.

“Be an ally and not a homophobe. It’s really f***ing ugly and tiring.”

The Pride jersey seven Manly Sea Eagles players have refused to wear. Picture: Manly Digital

Scott O'Halloran wants the players to be stood down permanently. Picture: TikTok/@lukeandsassyscott

Scott said when players put on the jersey they represented the sport and team, not a religion.

“There are fans at home that are black, white, brown, Christian, Muslim, trans, gay, bi, straight – who the f**k are you to define the validity of that jersey when you put it on?” he said. “Because the last time I looked it’s the members who pay really big bucks and the sponsors who pay even bigger bucks to keep your arses employed.”

The TikTok video had been viewed more than 1.6 million times as of Thursday morning. The same video has been viewed another 970,000 times on Instagram.

The brothers are known for comedic bits, where Luke deliberately antagonises “sassy” Scott who often loses his cool.

Scott and Luke O'Halloran. Picture: Instagram/@lukeandsassyscott

While the video was still impassioned, fans were surprised Scott managed to remain level-headed and praised him for being “incredibly well articulated”.

“First time seeing Scott annoyed when it’s not funny,” one TikTok user wrote with a sad face. “Well said, Scott!”.

“Wow I’m surprised how mellow he was, he must have wanted to get his point across and he ain’t wrong,” wrote another.

On Instagram, users pointed out the irony in the players usually wearing jerseys with a gambling sponsor logo across their chest but refusing the pride jersey for religious reasons.

“They stand themselves down over a jersey, but will happily play for a team whose major sponsor is a betting agency and whose home ground is sponsored by an alcohol company … which both go against religious beliefs???” one person wrote.

However, not everyone was on Scott’s side.

“Hey Scott, how would you feel if you played for the Sea Eagles and they made you wear a Catholic jersey? Neither religion or gay pride should have a place on those jerseys,” one person wrote.

Over on his personal Instagram on Wednesday night, Scott shared hate messages he had received in response to speaking up about the jersey scandal.

Magda Szubanski also weighed into the scandal on Twitter. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Australian TV icon Magda Szubanski weighed into the religious argument on Wednesday.

“Religious tolerance doesn’t mean you condone or believe in the other’s religion,” she wrote in a series of tweets.

“It means that you accept the right of difference to exist.

“That you support a world where people are not excluded or persecuted because of their religion. All we ask, is for the same courtesy.”

Retired Manly Sea Eagles great Ian Roberts, who came out while playing at the club, said while he respected the right of players to opt out of the match, he would like an opportunity to sit down and explain what it meant to the LGBTQI community.

“I just wish I could sit around the table with those players and explain to them that unfortunately there are kids out in the suburbs, out in the regions, today that might not have heard many stories in the last month, but I can promise you, they heard this story,” he said.

Manly coach Des Hasler said on Tuesday the club accepted the players’ decision not to play in Thursday’s match because the jersey conflicted with their cultural and religious beliefs.

“These young men are strong in their beliefs and convictions and we will give them the space and the support they require,” he said in a press conference.