Anthony Mundine has apologised for his homophobic slurs and says he is a changed man, wanting to use his voice for good rather than spreading negativity.
After reflecting on the hurt caused when he said ‘if you’re going to be gay, do it behind closed doors’, Mundine is changing his tune.
The boxer made the vile comments after he threw in the towel on his time in the jungle on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in February.
Anthony Mundine (pictured) has apologised for his homophobic slurs and negative words
In the four months following, Mundine says he has rethought his stance on speaking so horribly, and is willing to be more openly accepting after reflecting on the impact his words had on people he loves.
‘One of my cousins messaged me on Facebook and said, ”What are you doing?” — having a go at me,’ he told the Daily Telegraph. ‘I was trying to explain myself and I told him even though I don’t agree with what you do, I love you for who you are, I respect whatever you are.
‘Sometimes my delivery is not the best. I probably said it in a harmful way, and I don’t want to be harmful, I want to be kind.
‘I have gay friends and family members who were upset by my comments, they were hurt, and it hurt me to see them hurt.’
The boxer made vile comments after quitting the jungle on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
After reflecting on the hurt that he has caused, Mundine is changing his tune
He offered an apology to those people individually and also extended a wider acknowledgement of regret to the wider public to anyone who may have been offended.
Previously he said he believed capital punishment is the only way to deter homosexuality which should be ‘behind closed doors, how it used to be’.
‘If we were to live in a society, just like in Aboriginal culture, that homosexuality is forbidden and you do it and the consequences are capital punishment or death, you think you are going to do it? Or think twice about doing it?’
Mundine’s comments gave a clear view of his firm Muslim beliefs, as homosexuality is banned in Islam but he now says the nasty comments is ‘not who I am’.
‘I realise I have a big voice and platform and I want to use it positively.’
He offered an apology to anyone who had been offended by his nasty rants and going forward wants to use his voice for good