Jarryd Hayne claims Jews are responsible for death of Christ

FORMER NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne has got himself into serious hot water over some controversial tweets.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne tosses the ball at a football rookie minicamp at an NFL facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, May 15, 2015. Hayne is a former Australian League rugby player. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

FORMER NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne has come under fire for comments made on his personal Twitter account that implied that “the Jews” killed Jesus.

In two separate tweets, Hayne claimed that Jesus was killed by his own people despite just “wanting to help people”.

After he was corrected on the historical facts by one of his followers, Hayne made further comment the next day, claiming the “Jews” were directly responsible for the death of Christ.

Hayne’s comments from his personal Twitter account.

Posted on July 1 and 2, the comments were deleted early this morning after Fairfax Media contacted the former Parramatta Eels full-back’s management.

Hayne’s posts have not been well received among the Jewish community.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of Jewish community organisation the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, told Fairfax Media the tweets were “repulsive and irresponsible”.

“For thousands of years, Jews were held in contempt and were persecuted and murdered because they were labelled as Christ-killers,” he said.

“Rather than fuelling anti-Semitism, we need sportspeople to be powerful voices in countering racism and Jewish-hatred, especially when attacks against Jews worldwide are on the increase.”

Dr Abramovich said comments like these could contribute to the growth of anti-Semitism in Australia.

“I’m not saying that Hayne is anti-Semitic but I think his statements are very, very dangerous,” he said.

“Sportspeople are role models and people look up to them. The last thing we want is an Australian display of anti-Semitism.”

Jarryd Hayne during practice for the San Francisco 49ers.

Hayne’s manager Wayne Beavis allegedly claimed the tweets were “just a personal comment”.

Beavis declined to make any further comment when questioned by Fairfax Media.

Currently in Sydney attending the Hillsong Conference, Hayne was a regular member of the western Sydney-based church before he left Australia to pursue of a career in the NFL.

Hayne allegedly appeared as a guest speaker for Hillsong Church after recovering from minor surgery on his foot three weeks ago. A post made to his Instagram account of Hillsong speaker Jentezen Franklin suggested he was excited for the conference.

Along with the photo, Hayne wrote:

“Listen, his speaking!! @jentezen with a doozie message tonight!! Wayyyyyy up, I feel blessed.”

Hayne has spent the past three weeks back in Australia after taking a break from his NFL commitments with the San Francisco 49ers to have minor surgery on his foot. Part of last year’s victorious NSW State of Origin side, Hayne recently visited the NSW camp for Origin Game III.

He is due to return to the US in the coming weeks to resume his NFL rookie career.