NRL star Tyrone May deletes controversial Instagram post after uproar

A Panthers premiership winner appears to have deleted a controversial Instagram post after it caused outrage following the Grand Final.

Many questioned the wisdom of Tyrone May’s Instagram post. (Photo by David Neilson/Getty Images)

There’s no longer any trace of a controversial post on Tyrone May’s Instagram account after the Penrith star came under fire for his social media activity.

Not long after the Panthers beat Souths in Sunday night’s NRL Grand Final, May uploaded a post that many interpreted as a reference to his sex tape scandal. As part of the post, May included a photo of him at court, being supported by Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.

The caption included lyrics from the song Fair Trade by Canadian rapper Drake.

“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it,” the caption read.

The post was up for a number of days but was no longer visible on May’s profile on Wednesday, suggesting it had been deleted.

In November 2019 May pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent. In January 2020, the magistrate slammed his “reprehensible” conduct as he was handed a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

“This behaviour is not only morally reprehensible, it’s criminal,” Magistrate Robyn Denes told Parramatta Local Court at the time of sentencing.

“Ultimately, this is an offence which takes what was consensual sexual acts to another level. It does breach trust.”

May was heavily criticised for his Instagram post as Panthers players partied in Queensland, celebrating their premiership triumph.

On Tuesday, radio host Neil Breen launched a stinging attack in a lengthy Twitter thread, referencing the “brutal” assessment the magistrate made while delivering the footy player’s sentence.

Tyrone May received plenty of support on his post. Photo: Instagram.

“Was what Magistrate Denes said some of the ‘dirt’ thrown your way?” Breen tweeted, as part of his thread.

“Anyway Tyrone, I’m off to ‘figure out what wer’all gon’ do about it’.”

NRL commentator Andrew Voss was heavily critical and also took aim at other NRL players who commented on May’s post with messages of support.

“Someone has to pull this bloke to one side and say, ‘What the hell? What world do you live in?’” Voss said on his SEN Breakfast radio show on Wednesday.

“He was an inch away from being sent to jail.

“And the support of the players. No less than 10 players came out (saying), ‘With you brother’ … and all that. Just keep it in-house, boys.

“I don’t think it did Tyrone any favours at all.”

Lawyer and Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, who acted for a woman depicted in a video recorded by May, also reacted to the post.

“I do hope that Tyrone doesn’t think that a premiership victory somehow vindicates criminal behaviour,” Hagipantelis told Voss.

“One only needs to have a look at the comments made by the magistrate when Tyrone was convicted to see how serious it was.

“It’s something he should quite probably be quite embarrassed and ashamed of and not necessarily espouse or seek to justify, if that’s what he was intending to do.”

News.com.au has contacted Penrith for comment.

Tyrone May came under fire for his Instagram post. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)