Updated ,first published
Allen & Unwin has paused publication of the third book in Isaac Heeney’s Little Isaac Footy Fever children’s book series, Super Swan, which was due to hit shelves in November ahead of the Christmas sales period.
Bookstores and major retailers were on Thursday weighing whether to continue displaying or selling Heeney’s books, with Big W pulling copies from its shelves while they remain on display at Dymocks.
The publishing moves on Thursday afternoon coincided with a decision by sportswear giant Nike to pause its sponsorship of Heeney and his teammate Chad Warner over the incident at a Melbourne hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.
The players involved in the incident, in which women were brought back to a hotel room after a night of drinking, have apologised for breaching club standards. A source close to the players has denied any criminal allegations, after one of the women claimed she had been touched beyond agreed boundaries.
Heeney was one of the AFL’s most marketable stars, including via his book series for small children. The first two books in the series, aimed at children aged seven to 10 and billed as a way for young readers “to find fun and friendship in sport”, were published earlier this month.
“Allen & Unwin is aware of reports relating to Isaac Heeney and a Victoria Police investigation, and that his employer has exercised sanctions under club policy and his terms of employment,” the publisher said in a statement.
“We view this matter seriously and believe that the women involved deserve respect and support. We have paused promotion of his two books and the publication of his third book, while the police investigation is under way. We are unable to comment further while the matter is in the hands of the police.”
Some publishing contracts with high-profile figures include morality or disrepute clauses that allow publishers to respond to conduct that could cause reputational damage. It is not known whether Heeney’s contract contains such a clause.
Retailer Big W halted sales of Heeney’s books, saying it regularly reviewed products to ensure they aligned with the company’s “values and community expectations”.
“We have decided to pause all sales of Little Isaac Footy Fever books in our stores and online, pending the outcome of this matter,” a Big W spokesperson said.
Nike has also paused its lucrative sponsorship relationships with Sydney Swans footballers who were suspended on Wednesday following breaches of club behaviour standards on Sunday night.
In a statement, the company said it was “deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations” involving five Swans players: Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Nick Blakey.
“While the investigation remains ongoing, Nike has paused its relationships with the Nike-contracted athletes involved and will continue to monitor developments closely,” a spokesman said.
Heeney, who was revealed as the focus of Victoria Police’s investigation into an alleged sexual assault at an East Melbourne hotel room on Monday morning, had a lucrative partnership with Nike.
Warner also lists the company in his Instagram bio, and Bice wears Nike boots while playing. The footwear giant has sponsored the Swans since 2017, and that deal remains ongoing.
It comes after Colgate ended its partnership with Heeney on Thursday morning. Telstra also suspended Heeney and Warner from their brand ambassador positions this week.
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Melanie Kembrey is National Books Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.
Kishor Napier-Raman is a senior business writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously he worked as a CBD columnist and reporter in the federal parliamentary press gallery.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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