Spencer Leniu makes stunning revelation at NRL hearing as Roosters star learns fate following ‘monkey’ slur aimed at Ezra Mam in Las Vegas
- Spencer Leniu claims he didn’t realize the “monkey” insult was racist
- Roosters star faced an NRL hearing over a comment aimed at Ezra Mam
- The NRL called for the forward to serve an eight-match ban
Spencer Leniu has claimed he didn’t realize his “monkey” comments were racist until he was informed by an Indigenous woman on Instagram that the comment was offensive.
Leniu faced the NRL judiciary on Monday to learn his fate after telling the Brisbane star to “(shut up), monkey” during the Roosters’ win over the Broncos in Las Vegas. He has pleaded guilty to the charges.
Leniue has since been handed an eight-match ban.
Mom gave a twelve-paragraph statement at the hearing, but was pleased that only four paragraphs were read, while the other eight remained confidential.
He said he “saw red” and was “so angry” after receiving the foul from Leniu in the second half. Mom admitted, “My mind was no longer focused on the game.”
Spencer Leniu has claimed he didn’t know his “monkey” comments were racist
The Roosters star admitted she called Ezra Mam a ‘monkey’ in Las Vegas
Leniu confirmed that he told Mom to “shut up, monkey” and deeply regretted the comment. He was also criticized for telling Triple M after the match that it was “all fun and games”, insisting: “I thought it was a brown man sledding another brown man.”
The Roosters star claimed he only learned the taunt was offensive when an Aboriginal woman was notified on Instagram at around 6.30am the next morning.
Leniu added that it is not unusual for his friends with the same skin color to call each other ‘blacky’ and ‘black ****’. He also claimed he was called “monkey” and “coconut” but never took offense.
Such was his disgust at his own actions that Leniu offered to fly to Brisbane to apologize to Mom in person, but the offer was rejected.
“I would have flown to Brisbane and said ‘sorry’, face to face, man to man, without anyone knowing,” he said.
He said he was informed by an Aboriginal woman on Instagram after the match that it was racist
When asked by the NRL lawyer if he was aware of AFL star Adam Goodes, or any other racial incidents involving references to monkeys or apes, Leniu said this was not the case.
“Most people who have lived in Australia for 15 years (like Leniu) would know that calling someone a monkey could be racist,” the NRL lawyer said.
More to follow.