Australian rugby star Israel Folau announced yesterday he will be withdrawing from the Wallabies spring tour, also using the opportunity to double-down on his opposition to same-sex marriage following on from his public declaration earlier this year.
Early in September Folau tweeted out his anti-SSM stance, a day after Rugby Union Australia came out in support for the ‘Yes’ vote in the ongoing postal survey, with his tweet going viral (for all the wrong reasons, obvs):
I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage.✌❤🙏
— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) September 13, 2017
Folau copped a whole mess of responses from upset fans and sporting figures, many taking issue with the cognitive dissonance between supposedly “loving and respecting people” and not supporting ending discrimination against said human beings.
Set to take a break from the Wallabies team, with his last game to be played this Saturday against the Barbarians, Folau has said the backlash to his statement has not impacted him in the slightest:
It hasn’t really affected me at all. I’m just really enjoying playing my rugby and life outside of that. It obviously hasn’t changed any plans around my personal relationship with my fiancée. I don’t retreat (from) anything I said.
Folau also touched on his relationship with teammate David Pocock, who tweeted his support for marriage equality seemingly in response to Folau’s stance:
I’ve spoken to Dave briefly … we both respect each other and it was nice for me to hear a message from Dave. I respect everyone’s opinions. Dave is a teammate of mine and I really enjoy playing alongside him. It’s not judgemental or anything.
It doesn’t affect me at all. Everything’s good from my end.
Doesn’t affect you at all mate? Hmm, kinda like how the ability for same-sex couples to get married would also affect you to the grand sum of zero?
Folau will be marrying his fiancée during his break from rugby. How lovely for him.
