England rugby player Billy Vunipola has been dropped as the face of Channel 4’s European rugby coverage after he defended Israel Folau for citing 1 Corinthians 6:9.
After liking Folau’s post, Vunipola issued a comment on his own Instagram account saying: “So this morning I got 3 phone calls from people telling me to ‘unlike’ the @izzyfolau post. This is my position on it. I don’t HATE anyone neither do I think I’m perfect.
“There just comes a point when you insult what I grew up believing in that you just say enough is enough, what he’s saying isn’t that he doesn’t like or love those people. He’s saying how we live our lives needs to be closer to how God intended them to be. Man was made for woman to procreate that was the goal no?
“I’m not perfect I’m at least everything on that list at least at one point in my life. It hurts to know that. But that’s why I believe there’s a God. To guide and protect us and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
In response to Vunipola’s comments, a spokesman for Channel 4 said: “These views are incompatible with our values as an inclusive broadcaster. In light of this Billy Vunipola will not be used as a contributor in Channel 4’s coverage.”
English Rugby Football Union is also set to meet with Vunipola about his social media posts.
“Rugby is an inclusive sport,” an RFU spokeswoman said. “We do not support these views. We will be meeting with Billy to discuss his social media posts.”
Vunipola’s team Saracens also strongly condemned the post saying, “As representatives and role models, Saracens players have a responsibility not only to themselves but to the club and wider society. Billy Vunipola’s recent social media posts are inconsistent with this and we take this matter very seriously. It will be handled internally.”
Vunipola is not the only one “embroiled in the Israel Folau scandal”. Today Geelong champion Gary Ablett and Carlton’s Matt Kennedy were called out for merely liking Folau’s post on Instagram.
We’ve now reached a point in society where people must choose between their career and their faith. You may believe what the Bible says, at least for now. But you must never voice that belief in public or else your career is over. So, which will it be?