Anti-gay rugby star Israel Folau has said he wants to “move forward” from his past homophobic comments. He also wants fans to know he has “no regrets” about what he said.
To recap: The former Aussie rugby player made international headlines back in 2018 for comments he made about gay people on social media. Folau repeatedly denied being homophobic, though he also made comments disparaging marriage equality and a then-new Australian law that allowed transgender people to more easily change their gender on their birth certificates.
He attracted further controversy in 2019 after copying Bible passages to his social media condemning homosexuality. Rugby Australia immediately denounced the post as homophobic and subsequently terminated his contract. Folau later resurrected his career playing rugby in France and then Japan.
Related: Israel Folau forces Rugby Australia to apologize to him and pay up
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Now, in a new interview discussing his possible transfer to the island nation of Tonga, Folau reflected on the controversy, and wants his fans to know he has “moved forward from what’s happened in the past.”
“I have no regrets about anything but it’s led me here to Japan and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” News24 reports. “I’m just stoked to be playing rugby again. It’s a different experience to what I’m used to back in Australia but it’s something that I’m really enjoying.”
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For the record, Folau never deleted his offending Instagram post. At the time of this writing, it has almost 75,000 likes, though not all the comments are supportive.
Folau’s homophobic comments have made him the subject of pro-queer rights campaigns.
In 2020, the player took to the field only to see the opposing team wearing rainbow socks and shoelaces in support of LGBTQ players and fans. In 2021, Folau claimed he was bombarded by gay pornography after joining a WhatsApp group for the French team Catalans Dragons.
dario717
Maybe he’ll be shocked upon death, when the first question is “How did you treat other people?”
white-queer-african
He is hideous. Externally and internally.
MarcyMayer
Have you seen his body?
It’s gorgeous.
I have to admit that I’d spread my legs and cheeks for him.
charlietex
@marcy. And from
You who just called reality tv crude and crass? You certainly lack self awareness. I suspect you’d spread those legs for any garden variety homophobe, who would not be in the market for you.
Cam
@MarcyMayer
Right wing troll account will ALWAYS do anything it can to defend anti-LGBTQ bigots.
Prax07
Maybe he should go volunteer to fight for Putin. I wouldn’t cry if he became another casualty in the war.
ZzBomb
Has no regrets but likely not getting as lucrative as a contract as he could have had in Australia playing for Tonga should he be transferred.
Enjoy continued irrelevance.
marxist_homo
I’d let him slap me around and call me a homosexual.
cuteguy
You obviously hate yourself so if you don’t get therapy, just jump off a cliff. No one will miss you.
Cam
Hi @SamB and @MarcyMayer
I can’t believe you brought out this dusty old troll screename to defend this bigot. Let me guess, are you bringing back “rural queer socialist” next? LOL
Your troll game is sad and weak.
marxist_homo
First of all, I don’t know who these other people you’re talking about are.
Second, is it a crime to have a sense of humor? Jesus.
Third, every gay guy I know–and I know about 40 years’ worth of gay guys–would jump at the chance to get down with Israel, in spite of (or maybe because of?) his homophobia. That doesn’t make us self-hating. That makes us better.
Fourth, why is that every time somebody posts a remotely critical comment Cam and that queer white african person accuse them of being somebody else? Seriously. This is not an episode of Mr. Robot (or Homeland, if you prefer).
MarcyMayer
Cam:
Your troll game is sad and weak.
johncp56
what a maga ass!!!!! he needs stories even fake! said about him and other men!! hateful shit head
iminheatlikeacat
Um…he’s Australian. I don’t think he cares about MAGA
jt1990
At least he included thieves on the list. I would still like to see punishment to the lousy intern who stole my lunch every other day at work. When I confronted him, I was told I can afford to lose a few pounds. Pleased to know he will suffer Satan’s wrath (eventually)!
Also the fellow in the article screams closet case.
Cam
Hmmm, SamB, Marcy Mayer, etc… brought out THIS already identified right wing troll screename and are trying to rehabilitate it’s image. A shame they already tried that with two other screenames this month and got called out.
Sorry bout it.
jt1990
Cam sounding more and more like a conspiracy theorist…
Cam
@jt1990
You already tried that line under your other screenames precious.
MarcyMayer
Cam:
Your troll game is sad and weak.
cuteguy
It’s pathetic how some gay guys still find this disgusting homophobe attractive. Some guys have no self respect. Or taste. Have you seen this guy? He’s fugly
marxist_homo
Taste is relative. If you had half a brain, you’d know that. And anyway why do you care so much about what other people find attractive? To borrow from–oh wait, you–maybe you need therapy?
scotty
he needs to take some dic-tation.
Cam
Enjoy playing for Tonga and not Australia. Enjoy the massive salary cut. And when you finally do come out in 20 years, enjoy being reviled for your bigotry all over again.