Fox Sports presenter Megan Barnard has returned to TV screens almost a week after her former colleague Tom Morris was sacked for revealing her sexuality and making disgraceful remarks in a leaked video.
Barnard was seen at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup presenting Australia’s fixture against second-ranked South Africa at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Tuesday morning.
The 37-year-old introduced the game for TV viewers just before the toss and later gave updates and spoke to different cricketers throughout the match.
Fox Sports presenter Megan Barnard (pictured) has made her return to the TV screen almost a week after her former colleague Tom Morris was sacked for revealing her sexuality and making disgraceful remarks in a leaked video
Barnard, who has worked for Fox Sports since 2013, has been one of Australia’s main sports presenters for women’s cricket. She also hosts and presents news about the NRL for the station.
Her former colleague Tom Morris was sacked last Friday after a leaked video surfaced where he revealed Barnard’s sexual orientation to a Whatsapp group on social media.
A Fox Sports internal investigation determined he ‘crossed a line’ when he referred to Barnard in extremely crude terms that Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to publish.
Morris, who was one of Fox’s leading AFL reporters, issued a grovelling apology for those comments, and also for a separate video in which he made disparaging comments about women, Asians, black people and homosexuals.
Barnard, who has worked for Fox Sports since 2013, has been one of Australia’s main sports presenters for women’s cricket. She also hosts and presents news about the NRL for the station
Barnard broke her silence over the disgraceful video on Sunday through a post shared to her personal Instagram where she thanked people for their support throughout her ordeal and criticised Morris without mentioning him by name
Barnard broke her silence over the disgraceful video on Sunday through a post shared to her personal Instagram where she thanked people for their support throughout her ordeal and criticised Morris without mentioning him by name.
‘Fortunately, I am at a place in my life where I am comfortable with who I am and I can handle something deeply personal becoming public,’ she began.
‘But had this happened as recently as a few years ago, it would not have been the case.
‘Coming out is a process and should never be taken out of someone’s hands. Nor should anyone be spoken about in such a degrading manner.’
She finished by writing: ‘I hope I can be a catalyst for change in not just the sports industry, but every industry.’
Morris issued a grovelling apology for his comments on Friday night after he’d been dismissed.
‘I would like to unconditionally apologise to everyone for my disgusting and disgraceful comments, which became public yesterday,’ he wrote.
‘I am especially sorry to the person involved. No one should ever, in any place, or at any time, be spoken about in that way.
‘I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour. My comments were hurtful to many and I will now take the time to listen, learn and work to improve myself, ensuring that I become a better person. I am truly sorry to everyone.’
AFL reporter Tom Morris made a grovelling apology for his comments about Barnard after he was sacked by Fox Sports last Friday
Morris’s apology also covered a separate video in which he made disparaging comments about women, Asians, black people and homosexuals
Fox Sports Executive Director Steve Crawley released a statement on Friday which said Morris’ ‘unacceptable’ comments would not be tolerated.
‘Our culture at Fox Sports is based on a respectful, inclusive environment and a fair go for all,’ Mr Crawley said.
‘While Tom’s journalism has made a valuable contribution to Fox Sports over the past seven years, the message we became aware of yesterday crossed the line. It was unacceptable.
‘We have the best in the business working at Fox Sports. We love what we do, and we have a reputation as a great place to work. The bottom line is we are committed to a work environment where everyone can come to work in the knowledge they are safe, respected and valued. We have zero-tolerance for anything less than that.’
Barnard (pictured left while working for Fox Sports) said that while she handled the ordeal well, it might have been a very different story had it happened to her a few years ago
The Fox Sports presenter (left) made stinging criticisms of Tom Morris without mentioning the disgraced reporter by name
The clips, which are understood to have been recorded late last year, were originally shared in a private WhatsApp group before they were leaked on Thursday afternoon.
‘To the lads on tier 4, I’m not Asian, I’m not black, I’m not a woman, I’m not gay. So don’t treat me like sh*t,’ he said in the clip.
‘I’m a man with a heart and I’ve got feelings.’
The audio and video clips went viral within an hour of being shared on social media on Thursday with others.
The two disgraceful videos of Morris were leaked following a highly publicised blasting he received from Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge during a press conference on Wednesday night following the Bulldogs’ loss to Melbourne.
In an all-time verbal spray, Beveridge berated Morris for an accurate report about Bulldogs premiership midfielder Lachie Hunter being dropped for the season opener.
The two disgraceful videos of Morris (pictured) were leaked following a highly-publicised blasting he received from Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge during a press conference on Wednesday night following the Bulldogs’ loss to Melbourne
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge (pictured) berated Morris for an accurate report about Bulldogs premiership midfielder during a press conference on Wednesday
After the three-minute tirade, in which he labelled Morris a ‘gutter journalist’, Beveridge stormed out of his media conference.
‘You’ve got the nerve to ask me a question and even be here,’ Beveridge responded to Morris’ question about the pre-game drama.
‘You’ve been preying on us and causing turmoil within our football club by declaring our team well before it needs to be declared.
‘Is that the gutter journalist you want to be?’
Beveridge released an apology on Thursday afternoon, saying he ‘overstepped’ in his exchange with Morris.
The Bulldogs also agreed to donate $20,000 to youth mental health organisation Orygen after discussions between the AFL and senior club officials.
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