Australian rugby star Israel Folau, Rugby Australia (RA) and NSW Rugby have reached an out-of-court settlement over the player’s sacking.
Folau saw his four-year, AUS$4million (US$2.7million) contract ripped up earlier this year after he posted an Instagram image that said ‘hell awaits’ gay people and adulterers.
He was subsequently dropped from the national team and the New South Wales Waratahs. Folau, 30, a Christian, says he was merely voicing his religious beliefs, was treated unfairly and that the sacking derailed his rugby career.
He has also gone on to reassert his beliefs. Just a couple of weeks ago he gave a church sermon in which he suggested recent wildfires in Australia were because God was unhappy with Australia introducing same-sex marriage.
Related: Homophobic rugby player says there wouldn’t be wildfires if gay people just stopped existing
Although RA has consistently said it acted correctly in sacking Folau, he was demanding AUS$14million (US$9.5million) in compensation.
The threat of losing the case, and mounting legal costs, could have financially ruined the sporting organization. Instead, it today reached an out-of-court settlement with Folau to bring the matter to a close.
It also said it “apologizes for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus.” Folau also apologized, “for any hurt or harm caused.” However, his Instagram post remains online.
As part of the settlement, all parties issued a joint statement. It reads as follows:
“Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby and Israel Folau have today settled their legal dispute following the dismissal of Israel Folau after he posted a religious message on social media (the Social Media Post).
“The Social Media Post reflected Mr Folau’s genuinely held religious beliefs, and Mr Folau did not want to harm or offend any person when he uploaded the Social Media Post.
“Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity.
“Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby do not in any way agree with the content of the Social Media Post. Inclusiveness is one of Rugby’s core values and it welcomes all people to the game, including all members of the LGBTI community.
“While it was not Rugby Australia’s intention, Rugby Australia acknowledges and apologizes for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus. Similarly, Mr Folau did not intend to hurt or harm the game of rugby and acknowledges and apologizes for any hurt or harm caused.
“Rugby Australia and Mr Folau wish each other well for the future. The parties do not intend to comment further on the terms of their settlement as it is confidential.”
Related: GoFundMe shuts down Israel Folau’s homophobic $3 million fundraiser
Neither party is allowed to reveal how much money Folau has been paid. However, Folau has said that he feels “vindicated”.
Folau uploaded a video to his official accounts after news of the settlement broke.
In it, he says he and wife Maria are “extremely pleased” with the settlement.
“We have been vindicated and can now move on with our lives to focus on our faith and our family. Maria and I would like to thank God for his guidance and strength.”
He goes on to say, “We started this journey on behalf of all people of faith to protect their rights of freedom of speech and religion,” and expresses the hope the Australian government will introduce religious protection legislation.
Reacting to news of the settlement, Greg Martin, a former player turned high profile sports commentator told AAP the ongoing threat of legal action was overshadowing Australian rugby.
“Today is like Christmas because he’s finally gone away.
“The anchor has been cut and we’ve finally cut him loose so that’s the last we will hear of him and rugby.”
There is no indication from either party Folau will be allowed to play again for any Australian rugby team.
Related: Israel Folau inadvertently donates to queer youth organization
However, news of the settlement has been met with disappointment by many in the LGBTQ community.
Pride in Sport, an organization that campaigns for greater diversity and inclusion in Australian sport, issued a statement commending RA for swiftly sacking Folau and striving to encourage diversity.
However, its co-founder, Andrew Purchas went on to say, “We share in the disappointment that an apology from Israel Folau has not been forthcoming to our communities, and note that his post remains on his Instagram feed.
“We share people’s anger and frustration. We also acknowledge the action Rugby Australia took in terminating Mr Folau from his contract and disassociating him from the game, which values inclusion and diversity.”
JessPH
After he gets his money, he should vanish into oblivion. He should also get sterilized and spare the human race exposure to his DNA.
Cam
Except he’s not vindicated. He isn’t back on the team. If Rugby Australia really backed down he would be back playing. He isn’t. Bigotry still cost him.
Chrisk
..and everyone else is happy because the angry shithead is finally going away.
“Today is like Christmas because he’s finally gone away. “The anchor has been cut and we’ve finally cut him loose so that’s the last we will hear of him and rugby.”
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
That piece of garage fell from the tippy top of the ugly tree and hit every branch face first on the way down….
Ugly on the inside as on the outside.
Jerry
I hope he has may gay children of his own and he learns to love for real one day.
Chrisk
“Mr Folau did not want to harm or offend any person” Yeah, but if you’re a queer forget about it and eff off.
The team had every right to shit can him. They asked him repeatably to knock it off as it was effecting their image as well. So no apology and no mention of the 2.1 million he already looted from the bigot crowd over this. You’d think he’d be grateful and give some of that donated $ back. Lol
Sounds like Australians version of “protecting religious freedom”. That smile at the end was just super creepy. Unfortunately we still live in a world where the religious loonies have control.
OzJosh
A pox on Rugby Australia for caving to Folau and issuing such a cowardly apology – presumably because the judged settling out of court the smaller financial risk. They may console themselves that it puts the whole awkward affair in the past, but their lack of courage will no doubt rebound on some other business in the future, whenever the next self-righteous religious crusader decides that their 15-minutes of fame comes with a pulpit from which to berate, abuse and stigmatise others. They should hang their heads in shame.
Joshua333
What an absolute bastard. I hope we’ll never hear from him again but that would be wishful thinking.
trelld
Unpopular opinion… but people have freedom of religion and freedom of speech. There are all types of laws that protect people for different reasons in the case of firing. The organization must have decided that they would probably lose and decided to cut their loses.
News alert…there are people who believe we are all going to hell. There are others who believe that we aren’t and others still who don’t believe believe in heaven or hell. That’s what makes where we live great, that we can all have our own beliefs.
Den
Beliefs may enjoy some legal protection, but there is no reason that they should have protection from criticism.
Opinions, beliefs and superstitions can be critically evaluated and called out for the bull that they are. Many other countries have different laws regarding hate speech than we do in the US, and it is not necessarily tolerated to the extent that it is here.
And let’s face it there is a huge difference between stating that Jesus is a God (a statement of sincerely held religious belief) and stating that horrific wildfires in Australia are directly related to the legalization of same sex marriage there.
That is:
1. superstition
2. a potential invitation to violence
3. potentially hate speech
4. absolutely idiotic.
5. not a statement of “sincerely held religious belief”.
DuMaurier
Nothing’s ever completely black-and-white. Religious beliefs and expression are protected, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t and shouldn’t be a line regarding the way it’s expressed (and where; i.e., it’s different in the workplace than on your own time, etc)
Itsonlythetruth
He still a homophobic scum bag and no apology or cash settlement will change that.
stevieboy3362
I’m really tired of reading what this useless breeder has to say. Why give this twat any media coverage???
powersthatbe
I hope his faith helps him eventually let go of his hate, and move forward with love for his fellow man (no pun intended).
Creamsicle
His wife looks like she could be his sister.