Carlton are investigating members of an unofficial Blues fan podcast after they aired what some have labelled derogatory and violent remarks about a popular female-focused supporter group called the Carlton Besties
Co-founder of Carlton Besties, Tori Saros, has confirmed to this masthead they have filed a complaint to the Blues after the host of The Jumper Punch, Rocco Stagnitti, said he would “punch the f— out of the Besties”.
The comment was made while discussing a charity boxing match between content creators, prompting laughter from the other three male panellists. The podcast is not officially linked to Carlton.
“Name one creator out there that I wouldn’t beat up,” Stagnitti said in the episode which is still available on Instagram.
The four podcasters discussed several Carlton fans who they thought would beat Stagnitti in a boxing match, before he said: “But anyone else … I’d punch the f— out of the Besties”.
“There you go, Respects Round mate right there, Respects Round mate,” one of the podcast guests said.
Launched in 2016, the Carlton Respects game is an annual fixture dedicated to promoting gender equality and raising awareness for the prevention of family and domestic violence.
Carlton are aware of the comments made by The Jumper Punch podcast and are looking into whether the men are members.
Saros condemned the comments in an Instagram post. She told this masthead she was not surprised by the remarks.
“This isn’t the first time this page has spoken about us and if I’m honest we have had enough of staying quiet,” she said.
“When I first watched it, I was just so disgusted and disappointed that it had gotten to this point and the anger kicked in after as they continued to double down on thinking it’s OK.”
When asked what needed to be done to make sport a safer place for women and female content creators, Saros encouraged people to keep calling out inappropriate behaviour.
“I think as a whole, calling out behaviour as we see it, whether it’s online or at the games,” she said. “We are constantly being put in situations of feeling unsafe any time we open our mouths.
“Carlton have done a great job [with] us personally and their continued promotion of their respects program means so much to us, and I think it’s time the AFL follow suit.”
The Carlton Besties received a wave of support from their fan base on social media, including Carlton AFLW player Yasmin Duursma, who commented “We love you” under their post.
Stagnitti posted on Instagram on Thursday morning, apologising to the Besties. He said he did not make the comment “with any intention of wanting to really punch anyone”.
“Although my intentions were not malicious, I completely acknowledge that what I said promotes the wrong message, and made many feel uncomfortable,” Stagnitti said.
“This is a position I would never want to put anyone in, but more importantly women.
“For that, I am sorry, and I apologise to everyone that was affected by my comments.”
Stagnitti said his comments were never intended to be “a serious threat to anyone” and said it was a light-hearted discussion about a charity boxing match.
Stagnitti was contacted, via The Jumper Punch, by this masthead for comment.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports reporter and Formula 1 writer at The Age.Connect via email.
