Former AFL star Barry Hall has opened up about how his life has been turned upside-down after an offensive comment he made on-air two months ago.
The former Sydney Swans player made a vile comment about the pregnant wife of ex-St Kilda player Leigh Montagna on-air which resulted in his immediate dismissal from Triple M.
In an interview on 60 Minutes, Hall expressed regret at how the “one stupid little comment” destroyed his career.
“It was a bit unrehearsed. It was an off the cuff comment that was inappropriate for air. It shouldn’t have been on radio, 100 per cent,” Hall says.
“The thing is, as I’ve said, we’ve got no income now and there’s no real light at the end of the tunnel of when that will change or when that will be.”
Hall also divulged that he and his partner, Lauren Brant, and their baby son had been the subject of online abuse since the incident.
“Basically saying that I was a pig and she (wife Lauren) deserves me and all that stuff and my son’s ugly and talking about harmful things to them, and I’m not just talking about harmful words I’m talking about physical stuff,” he said.
“Well it’s just a pack mentality, really. They just lay the boots in .. it’s a form of bullying, really. They get on, and everyone’s gotta have their say … and I had thousands and thousands and thousands (messages) of just hate, absolute hate.”
In July, Brant defended his vulgar comment in a lengthy Instagram post.
“Although it was completely wrong, it was not intended to be a malicious statement and there was absolutely no thought or substance behind it,” she said.
“He fully admits that it was unacceptable, completely regrets it and has done his best to apologise for the offence he has caused.”
This article originally appeared on WHO.
