Panthers star Tyrone May shuts down Insta account after controversial post

Tyrone May copped a wave of backlash after posting a cryptic message to his Instagram, and the Panthers star has taken drastic action.

Tyrone May has deleted his Instagram account. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Controversial NRL star Tyrone May has shut down his Instagram account after copping backlash for questionable off-field behaviour since the NRL Grand Final.

Last week, May deleted an Instagram post he uploaded to the social media platform after Penrith defeated South Sydney in the season finale at Suncorp Stadium.

Many interpreted the post as a reference to his sex tape scandal and 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.

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

But as reported by The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, May appears to have shut down his social media accounts entirely following the heated backlash.

Tyrone May’s controversial social media post was later 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.”

Last week, May was filmed using an offensive slur during a teammate’s Instagram live Q&A.

On Monday, The Daily Telegraph reported May would be quizzed by the NRL Integrity Unit regarding three men from Western Sydney who police allege entered Queensland illegally to watch the NRL Grand Final in Brisbane.

Last week, Penrith club legend Greg Alexander said the Panthers’ Grand Final celebrations became “a bit out of control” and members of the playing group needed to “pull their heads in”.

“There have been a couple of social media things that haven’t impressed me,” Alexander said on SEN Radio.

“I think a couple of our players need to pull their heads in after what they’ve posted on social media.

“It gets a bit out of control. I don’t follow social media.

“I’ve had people tell me about what’s been posted, and some of it shouldn’t have been.

“It was a bit out of line.”