Three AFL figures, including media commentator Sam Newman, have issued a formal apology and agreed to a $100,000 settlement with St Kilda great Nicky Winmar over comments made on a podcast about Winmar's iconic stand against racism in 1993.
The settlement, paid to the Michael Long Foundation, follows a mediation hearing in Melbourne. Winmar and photographer Wayne Ludbey had initiated legal proceedings after Newman, journalist Mike Sheahan, and former Hawthorn captain Don Scott implied on their podcast that the anti-racist sentiment of Winmar's gesture was added later.
In a joint apology, Newman, Sheahan, and Scott acknowledged that Winmar's act was one of Indigenous pride and defiance, and that any suggestion otherwise was wrong. They said they understood many would regard their words as racially discriminatory and offered a sincere apology to Winmar and Indigenous Australians.
Winmar expressed relief at the resolution but noted there were still issues to address. He reiterated his pride in being black and thanked Australians for their support. Sheahan had previously apologised on air and left the podcast, stating he was shaken by the fallout and had received hurt calls from Indigenous players Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin.
