During his podcast alongside former AFL giant Don Scott and Footy Show reporter Mike Sheahan, Sam Newman defends his previous statement about George Floyd calling him a piece of sh*t before he lets Sheahan intervene.
Newman has previously been criticising players who took a knee to record their protest against police brutality and racism in America. He commented on LeBron’s Tweet, an NBA superstar, on the murder of Ahmaud Arbery while he went out for jogging as Sam believes his Tweet is polarizing the nation more.
He said we need unity now not the division as we are already a divided nation and LeBron James’ statement is going to add to the fury that divides us all. In the same spirit, he questions all those taking a knee, including the AFL sportsmen who took a knee in the Collingwood versus Richmond match, if they know what they are kneeling for.
According to Newman, the protests that erupted after George Floyd’s murder were against the police brutality and police reforms in its initial phase but they have turned into racism, Black Lives Matter, defunding the whole police department and looting.
He further says the incident that happened to Floyd was tragic and the cops involved were disgusting nonetheless it was in America, how is it even related to Australia? He also believes the footballers are intimidated into kneeling down.
His remarks about George Floyd’s history have sparked an outraged in the Black community as he dug into his past calling him a criminal, a pornstar, and a piece of sh*t who once held a pregnant woman by a knife. According to him, George Floyd was also a drug addict.
Newman’s comments are a response to the chaos and worldwide protests that have shaken America to its core following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year old Black man who died under the knee of a White cop.