Billy Vunipola Dropped

[Rossm]

"Vunipola has reportedly been dropped by Channel 4 with a spokesperson for the channel adding: “These views are incompatible with our values as an inclusive broadcaster and in light of this Billy Vunipola won’t be used as a contributor in Channel 4’s rugby coverage.” From The Guardian.

Nathan was one of several players who 'liked' Billy's post.

BV is on the bench for the estate agents' game today at Briz.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

If it was up to me, and clearly it isn't.  I'd drop hom from every team he is in, and every person who has liked his post along with him.

[mike909]

If it was up to me, and clearly it isn't.  I'd drop hom from every team he is in, and every person who has liked his post along with him.

Me too

He is quoted - as I put on the other thread - thus:

There just comes a point when you insult what I grew up believing in that you just say enough is enough - what he's saying isn't that he doesn't like or love those people

If I had been brought up by white supremacists and made this claim in defence of my views, I'd be rightly ridiculed, and I really cannot see where his "view" was insulted

I'd find it hard to support a team including players with such views, voiced publicly where they can do real harm. 

[Neils]

If it was up to me, and clearly it isn't.  I'd drop hom from every team he is in, and every person who has liked his post along with him.

+1

[mike909]

If it was up to me, and clearly it isn't.  I'd drop hom from every team he is in, and every person who has liked his post along with him.

Did you see this...

Lawes himself posted: "To everyone getting worked up about these posts I ask you if you don't believe in the same things as them then what do these statements matter to you? Can we not disagree with someone without calling them a bigot or a homophobe or every other name under the sun?

Naive doesn't really cover it....

[Vespula Vulgaris]

If it was up to me, and clearly it isn't.  I'd drop hom from every team he is in, and every person who has liked his post along with him.

Did you see this...

Lawes himself posted: "To everyone getting worked up about these posts I ask you if you don't believe in the same things as them then what do these statements matter to you? Can we not disagree with someone without calling them a bigot or a homophobe or every other name under the sun?

Naive doesn't really cover it....

No, I didn't see it, but I'm not surprised someone has come up with that argument.  I'd counter it by asking how many openly gay rugby players do we know of? The usual estimates say 1 in 20 men are gay, which means likely one in every single matchday squad.  Then ask why it is that there are either so few, or so few are willing to admit it.

[westwaleswasp]

These are sad times for us.
Football rife with overt racism again in Eastern Europe and closer to home in smaller numbers, potentially large numbers of rugby players eminating from a certain part of the world who clearly hold homophobic beliefs, and as we have seen in cricket with the Root incident, similar views from different parts of the world.

I don't want a witch hunt, but when you see a large number of pointy hat wearing green skinned ladies on brooms casting spells shouting "look at me, I am a witch" it is pretty hard to ignore them....

[mike909]

VV

Its the naivety that if you don't believe in hell, what's the problem? (to precis)

Its a problem as it legitimises prejudice. I doubt Lawes would be so sanguine is someone high profile said black people were less deserving of respect because their religion supported that POV...

[Vespula Vulgaris]

VV

Its the naivety that if you don't believe in hell, what's the problem? (to precis)

Its a problem as it legitimises prejudice. I doubt Lawes would be so sanguine is someone high profile said black people were less deserving of respect because their religion supported that POV...

Indeed. You'd have thought better of someone who has likely experienced bigotry themselves.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

I quite enjoyed Joe Marler's response.

[Trevs Big Tackle]

I quite enjoyed Joe Marler's response.

That's beautiful!

[mike909]

I quite enjoyed Joe Marler's response.

Me too - good photo!

[Rossm]

It is reported that Billy got booed when he came off the bench at Briz today.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

It is reported that Billy got booed when he came off the bench at Briz today.

He got booed every time he touched the ball or made a tackle.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

It is reported that Billy got booed when he came off the bench at Briz today.

He got booed every time he touched the ball or made a tackle.

I know I'm supposed to care, but this actually makes me happy.