RUGBY league international and gay activist Ian Roberts has joined legal action against the Nine Network over a controversial skit on the NRL Footy Show.

The Footy Show aired the mockumentary-style skit in May 2009 featuring the fictitious gay brother of NRL siblings Matthew and Andrew Johns called Elton Johns.

In the skit, the Johns' father attempts to return the gay son, played by Matthew Johns, to hospital saying: "I want to return this, it's faulty."

The Elton character is also asked if he dated Mr Roberts, a former South Sydney, Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys player.

Gay activist Gary Burns initially lodged a complaint against the Nine Network with the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board last year and Mr Roberts has now joined the action as a co-complainant.

Mr Roberts said he was offended by the sketch which he says vilifies gay men.

"The message is sent, that being gay, you're somehow less or not worthy, is unacceptable,'' he said.

"What really hurt me was that they used my name to justify that somehow a gay man who likes rugby and lives up to the stereotypical image of a man is somehow better than a man who doesn't like sport and is into the arts.

"How dare they use my name.''

The former Australian representative said he was hoping the action would bring some recognition that it is not acceptable to ridicule gay men.

A spokesman for the Nine Network said it had already addressed the issue and still rejected the claim the skit vilified gay men.

"Indeed the Footy Show many months ago now ran a segment on this very issue explaining that the skit was in fact satirical comedy which in no way intended any such vilification,'' he said.

"We'll leave this additional complaint for the tribunal.''

Matthew Johns has since left the Nine Network and is expected to sign a new contract with the rival Seven Network later this month.

