The great Nicky Winmar from St. Kilda has settled his fiery argument with Sam Newman, Don Scott and Mike Sheahan, referring to comments in their podcast about Winmar’s famous protest against racism.
After hours of mediation involving all parties, Winmar was excused while donating an undisclosed amount of money to an indigenous charity Herald Sun..
According to the ESPN, the donation is in the six-figure range.
Winmar told reporters that he and his team “still need to work on a few things.”
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“During our podcast on June 23, 2020, we talked about Nicky lifting his sweater and pointing it to his skin at the end of the 1993 Collingwood and St. Kilda game in which he was racially abused,” the apology said by Newman, Scott and Sheahan. via ESPN.
“We recognize that Nicky was an act of indigenous pride and defiance. It was also a strong declaration of solidarity for indigenous Australians exposed to racism and defamation.
“Any other suggestion was wrong. We have thought deeply about the issues.
“We accept that what was said during the podcast damaged Nicky’s reputation. We understand that many people would consider what we said to be racial discrimination against Nicky and Indigenous Australians. For all of these reasons, we sincerely apologize to Nicky Winmar and the indigenous Australians in general. “
Winmar and photographer Wayne Ludbey initiated a lawsuit after the podcast trio claimed that Winmar’s famous act of showing his skin color despite a racist fan at a Collingwood game was about “courage” instead.
The indigenous journalist Stan Grant and the former judge at the federal court Raymond Finkelstein were the mediators during the talks in Melbourne.
“I just want to say that I am black and proud and I want to thank the rest of Australia for supporting this,” Winmar told reporters when they arrived at the law firm.
‘I was very disappointed (with the comments). It’s been very emotional in the past few weeks.
“I believe in what I said.”
Newman and Scott came to the meeting with masks, while Sheahan arrived separately after recently leaving the podcast a second time. They hired media lawyer Justin Quill.
When asked if he hopes the situation will be resolved, Newman replied, “Oh, what do you think?”
Sheahan apologized earlier this week.
“What worried me the most was that I definitely hurt some people that I consider football fans. Indigenous people, indigenous players with whom I have a healthy relationship, were hurt and angry. Adam Goodes called me and was obviously hurt and a little angry at what I said. Mick O’Loughlin and I spoke, ”he said.
“I don’t like hurting people unnecessarily. I speak for myself here. I think I see myself through their eyes as an attack on an Aboriginal monument in football. I really feel that what I said hurt them.
“This is the forum where we initially discussed the topic and this is the forum where I should say that I am sorry I have caused you pain.”
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