AFL great Gary Ablett Jr has sent shockwaves through the sporting community after posting, and swiftly deleting, a highly controversial Instagram story seemingly connecting the tragic shooting of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk to a religious prophecy.
The Geelong Cats legend shared a now-removed post that featured a news headline about the shooting incident targeting Kirk, overlayed with a verse from the Gospel of John (15:18-19). The biblical passage states: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
Fans were quick to flood social media with their reactions, expressing a mixture of confusion, disappointment, and outright anger at the former player's implied comparison. Many found the post to be in poor taste, given the serious and violent nature of the event being referenced.
The incident involving Charlie Kirk occurred outside a speaking event in Chicago, where a suspect was arrested after allegedly firing shots towards the building. No injuries were reported.
Ablett, a devout Christian who retired from the AFL in 2020, has frequently shared his religious beliefs on social media. However, this latest post has been met with significant criticism, with followers labelling it as "inflammatory" and "deeply inappropriate."
As of now, the two-time Brownlow Medallist has not issued any public statement or explanation for posting the content or for its subsequent deletion. The silence from the AFL hall of famer has only intensified the discussion and speculation online.
