Jesinta Franklin is accused of being ‘out of touch’ for suggesting everyone is struggling through Covid lockdowns
Model Jesinta Franklin got into a skirmish with one of her Instagram followers after suggesting everyone was struggling with Australia’s Covid-19 lockdowns.
The wife of Sydney Swans star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin said on Sunday the lockdowns ‘can take a toll on mental health and well-being no matter your circumstances’.
But one of the 30-year-old’s followers suggested the WAG had ‘lost touch’ with everyday Australians given her personal wealth.
Fighting words: Model Jesinta Franklin got into a skirmish with one of her Instagram followers on Sunday after suggesting everyone was struggling with Australia’s Covid-19 lockdowns. Pictured with husband Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin in 2015
The Instagram user commented: ‘I think lockdown is much easier if you haven’t lost your ability to earn an income or you’re worried the bank won’t approve your next request to put your mortgage on hold.
‘You’ve lost touch.’
Buddy is one of the AFL’s biggest earners, currently playing for Sydney on a nine-year contract worth an estimated $10million.
Jesinta, who has previously spoken about her husband’s mental health battles, fired back: ‘Mental health doesn’t discriminate.’
‘Telling someone they aren’t allowed to feel something because someone else is worse off lacks compassion,’ she added.
The great leveler: The wife of Sydney Swans star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin said the lockdowns ‘can take a toll on mental health and well-being no matter your circumstances’
Out of touch? One of the 30-year-old’s followers suggested the WAG had ‘lost touch’ with everyday Australians given her personal wealth
‘I agree that some people have it much, much harder than others. I wish it wasn’t that way, I truly do. What we need during this time is kindness, not comparison.’
The mother of two continued: ‘We also have no idea what someone is going through behind closed doors, no matter how their life may appear on the outside.
‘I think it’s important we check in on those we love, even the ones we think are doing ok. That was the sentiment behind my comment.’
Fired up: Jesinta, who has previously spoken about her husband’s mental health battles, fired back: ‘Mental health doesn’t discriminate… We also have no idea what someone is going through behind closed doors, no matter how their life may appear on the outside’
Jesinta addressed Buddy’s demons in a 2016 interview with Cosmopolitan.
She admitted at the time her then-fiancé had suffered with mental illness throughout their entire relationship.
‘It’s the last three years that have been really difficult,’ she told the magazine. ‘We struggled in isolation for so long, so it’s kind of a relief it’s all out in the open now.’
The athlete withdrew from the 2015 AFL season to address his issues.
Struggles: Jesinta addressed Buddy’s demons in a 2016 interview with Cosmopolitan
The couple were recently separated for several weeks due to Covid border closures.
Jesinta spent time in hotel quarantine with her children on the Gold Coast, with the intention of joining the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants in their Queensland pods.
But she, along with over 100 other WAGs and family members, faced disappointment after Queensland’s Delta outbreak and announcement of a three-day lockdown saw the Sydney teams uprooted for a third time and sent to Melbourne.
To make matters worse, as Jesinta jetted into Melbourne with her kids the Friday before last, Victoria was plunged into its sixth lockdown.
Apart: The couple were recently separated for several weeks due to Covid border closures. Jesinta is pictured with the couple’s son Rocky earlier this month