Disgraced AFL reporter Tom Morris comes clean about ‘disgusting’ homophobic and racist slurs
Why disgraced AFL reporter Tom Morris has come under fire for finally confessing to ‘disgusting’ homophobic and racist slurs that cost him his job, and whether the Bulldogs LEAKED the information
- Tom Morris to return to AFL media via SEN radio
- Fired in 2022 after vile comments to a former colleague
- Morris publicly outed host Megan Bernard
Polluted AFL reporter Tom Morris admitted he deserved to be sacked last year following his ‘disgusting’ homophobic insults directed at former Fox Sports colleague Megan Barnard.
Morris also shot down speculation that the Western Bulldogs leaked a series of WhatsApp chats that resulted in Fox Footy showing him the door last March, but came under fire for making his statement on International Women’s Day.
“It’s not something I can live with,” Morris told the Don’t Shoot the Messenger podcast on Wednesday.
‘I am deeply ashamed of what happened. I can’t be clear enough. I deserved to get fired.
Morris confirmed that the Bulldogs were not responsible for their private WhatsApp chats being made public.
Disgraced AFL reporter Tom Morris will get the chance to revive his media career with SEN Radio after he was sacked by Fox Sports last March.
Popular Fox Sports host Megan Barnard (pictured) was sued by her former colleague Morris
They leaked online the day after Morris received a savage personal attack from Western Bulldogs AFL manager Luke Beveridge at a post-game press conference.
Morris still doesn’t know who leaked the chats, in which he crudely declared Barnard’s sexuality.
He confirmed that he later reached out to his former work colleague to apologize, but was met with silence.
An equally disturbing video then surfaced of Morris racially attacking a wide range of people.
βFor guys in level four, I’m not Asian, I’m not black, I’m not female, I’m not gay. So don’t treat me like s**t,β she said in the clip.
I am a man with a heart and I have feelings.
SEN boss Craig Hutchinson (pictured) offered Morris his first role in the sports media industry since he was fired for his vulgar comments.
Morris confirmed that he contacted Fox Sports host Megan Barnard (pictured) to apologize for his disgraceful behavior.
To the dismay of many, Morris is now set to revive his media career when he co-hosts the pregame show. Sunday Crunchtime on SEN radio station with former Fox Footy colleague Sarah Olle every week from 11am to 1pm.
Given Morris’ previous experience covering cricket, and the fact that SEN is the largest commercial radio rights holder for Cricket Australia, it is also likely that he will make the switch in the summer.
In February, SEN boss Craig Hutchison declared that Morris “absolutely deserves a second chance.”
The announcement of Morris’s pending return in an article published in Age and the timing of the podcast’s launch on International Women’s Day has been criticized by sports and media personalities.
ABC soccer reporter Samantha Lewis tweeted“Ladies…as a treat, here’s a reminder that straight white men who get caught making sexist and homophobic comments can still return to cushy jobs in sports media.”
Sportswriter Megan Hustwaite also weighed in on the conversation, posting online: ‘Oh, and happy #IWD2023 to the colleague whose personal life and privacy was breached.
‘She [also] I keep remembering him during redemption and comeback tours like this one.
Sportswriter Lavender Baj added: “We could have featured Megan Barnard today, but sure, let’s give Tom Morris more airtime which he absolutely doesn’t deserve.”