The presenter faces calls for him to quit after making a joke about Caitlyn Jenner

The Footy Show presenter, Sam Newman, has issued a statement after being asked to apologise for his transphobic comments, which caused outrage in the LGBTIQ community.

Newman, no stranger to airing his controversial views, appeared confused when asked by Billy Brownless on Wednesday night for his opinion on a banner shown on screen bearing the image of Caitlyn Jenner.



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“I know who he ... it is,” said Newman, to laughter and some groans in the studio audience. “Oh well what is she? Is it a he or a she. Is it transgender, is it?”

Newman’s co-host, Craig Hutchison, then quickly moved the conversation on.

Newman issued a brief statement through Channel Nine. “I regret the comments I made about Caitlyn Jenner,” Newman said. “What I said was not appropriate and I’m sorry to anyone offended.”

In June last year, Newman courted controversy with his staunch backing of his friend Eddie McGuire over the latter’s verbal attack on The Age journalist Caroline Wilson. Newman labelled Wilson an “embarrassment”.

He later branded some of his critics over the affair “cowardly excrement”.

Sally Goldner, the executive director of Transgender Victoria, said Newman’s most recent comments were “plain disgraceful” and called for Channel Nine to act.

“Given the number of times he’s made comments about women and now trans people, how many chances does he get?” Goldner said.



“If he can’t take responsibility for himself, he has to face the consequences.”

Goldner said Newman’s privileged position as the host of a national television show with a mouthpiece to a wider audience made his comments even worse.

“Trans people don’t have that mouthpiece,” she said. “There is a lack of balanced coverage.”

Karen Field, the chief executive of Drummond Street Services, which runs Queerspace and does LGBTIQ-specific community health work, condemned The Footy Show for “attacking a marginalised group for what they think is a humorous gag”.

Field said the remarks had “zero care” for the impact on the trans community.

“This is so beyond political correctness to attack this community who has the highest suicide rate in Australia,” Field said. “This is beyond an offensive gag or comment but to cause real harm to a community who continues to suffer as a result of increased community acceptance of trans and homophobic commentary over the last two years but is reckless and irresponsible on every level.

“Ignorance or just having a laugh as an exemption of our TV, media or sporting people being able to say hurtful irresponsible things no longer cuts it.”

The response on social media to the segment was swift.

Angie Greene (@Ange_Greene) Absolutely seething @AFLFootyShow @Channel9 Get these vile bullies off our screen! They are never held accountable. I will NOT let this sit pic.twitter.com/gOtCvcPMTD

Jill Stark (@jillastark) Sam Newman's comments are hideous but not surprising. Rebecca Maddern's laughter and complicity are v disappointinghttps://t.co/T3f6iRucjy

Sally Whyte (@sallywhyte) If we don't have enough evidence the Footy Show is irrelevant and gross, last night Sam Newman referred to Caitlin Jenner as "he" and "it". https://t.co/DG5zZIkQ0u