Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris stood down after offensive video and audio leaked

AFL boss Gil McLachlan has weighed in on the crude comments made by AFL journalist Tom Morris about a female co-worker.

Fox Footy host Tom Morris has been stood down.

AFL head honcho Gil McLachlan has called out disparaging comments made by AFL journalist Tom Morris as “clearly unacceptable.”

Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris was stood down on Thursday afternoon after offensive video and audio recordings surfaced.

In the clips, Morris can be heard making a series of derogatory comments about a ­female colleague and disparaging women, Asians, black people and homosexuals.

Morris’s comments were shared on social media.

His friend was responsible for the leak.

Video has been circulated on social media of one voice message recorded in a Whats­App group featuring Morris making sexist comments about the female co-worker, which are too crude to publish.

Morris’s friends also made derogatory comments about the woman in the group chat.

While the AFL has not officially weighed in, league boss McLachlan said he had read the offensive comments.

“I’ve just seen them in written form and clearly the comments from my reading of them were clearly unacceptable and Fox Sports have taken action,” McLachlan said on Friday.

The exchange is understood to have taken place late last year.

Not even going to watch the Tom Morris video, I’ve faced enough of this crap, face to face in this industry from men. About time we saw some accountability. A step towards women journalist and presenters being able to do their job and not having to put up with this daily crap!

— Shelley Ware (@ShelleyWare) March 17, 2022

In another video, Morris said: “I’m not Asian, I’m not black, I’m not a woman, I’m not gay, so don’t treat me like s---. I’m a man with a heart and I’ve got feelings. Love youse all …”

It is understood the female employee Morris singled out is intensely private and Fox Sports stood by her some years ago when offensive, sexist remarks were levelled at her by a leading sports figure from a different code.

He was stood down as a result.

In regards to leaked Morris audio, a Fox Sports spokesman said: “Fox Sports has stood down a reporter pending an investigation regarding an inappropriate audio recording.

“While it is not appropriate to comment further, Fox Sports is committed to a workplace where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.”

The audio and video recordings were leaked in the early afternoon on Thursday, just over 12 hours after Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge launched an extraordinary personal attack on the AFL journalist, for obtaining and revealing team selection plans ahead of its Melbourne match.

Luke Beveridge gave Morris a sensational spray in his post-match press conference. Picture: Twitter

Within an hour of the leak of the video and audio, it was going viral on social media.

On Thursday night, a friend of Morris confessed to the WhatsApp group that he had sent the exchange to another mate, who had circulated it more widely, leading to the leak.

“I’m obviously willing to cop it from you boys re this,” the friend wrote in a message seen by the Herald Sun.

“I honestly didn’t expect a message to one mate to circulate like this but I’ve well and truly learnt my lesson. it’s no excuse – I apologise.”

The Herald Sun was unable to reach Morris for comment.

Originally published as Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris stood down after offensive video and audio leaked