- Spat between Latrell Mitchell and Anthony Mundine has ended
- Indigenous athletes have differing views over Ezra Mam racism saga
- High profile pair traded opinions – and insults – on social media
The war of words between Latrell Mitchell and Anthony Mundine appears to be over after the Rabbitohs fullback ended their public spat on social media by calling for ‘the great [racism] debate to have a rest….for now.’
Indigenous athletes Mitchell and Mundine have differing opinions over the Ezra Mam racism saga, with ‘the Man’ adamant Roosters prop Spencer Leniu didn’t cross a line on the field in Las Vegas with his ‘monkey’ slur as he has a Samoan background himself.
Leniu has since been charged with contrary conduct by the NRL – and despite pleading guilty on Thursday and apologising to Mam, he faces a ban of at least six weeks.
Mundine maintains Leniu’s comment ‘ain’t racism’ – and called for Mam – and his supporters such as Mitchell and Cody Walker – to ‘toughen up.’
‘When two brothers are brown or black fellas they….call each other a black C or this or that but that’s what they are,’ he said.
The war of words between Indigenous athletes Latrell Mitchell and Anthony Mundine appears to be over after the Rabbitohs fullback ended the conversation
Mitchell and Mundine have differing opinions over the Ezra Mam racism saga , with ‘the Man’ adamant Spencer Leniu didn’t cross a line on the field in Las Vegas with his ‘monkey’ slur
”It’s like an African American and another African American calling each other the N word.
‘I think they ought to toughen up in that sense…a white fella saying that to a black fella, 1710002825 that’s a different story.
‘You have to take it on the chin. It’s what we [Indigenous Australians] have done all our lives.’
It didn’t take long for Mitchell – himself a previous target for racism – to respond to the Dragons footy star turned world champion boxer.
‘This what our people get told to do and continue to get told. ‘Be quiet, fall in line’,’ Mitchell said in an Instagram post referencing Mundine’s video.
‘Anyone with any sense of culture that this shit isn’t the same thing.
‘Absolute bulls..t. I don’t agree with this and if you do, do better.
‘Give respect get respect !! Don’t dilute the longest living culture in the world.’
Spencer Leniu is in line to cop a long ban from the NRL judiciary after admitting to the vile slur against Ezra Mam during the Roosters’ win over Brisbane in Las Vegas
Anthony Mundine’s stance saw Latrell Mitchell launch a furious response on Instagram (pictured)
Anthony Mundine told Ezra Mam (pictured left, during the Roosters match in Las Vegas) to ‘toughen up’ and ‘take it on the chin’ after he copped the abuse last Sunday
Taking to Facebook on Friday night, Mundine delivered what he felt were some hard truths to Mitchell.
He labelled the fullback an ‘underperformer’ since joining the Rabbitohs in 2020 – and also believes Mitchell is ‘lucky to have Cody [Walker] by his side to hold his hand.’
He wasn’t finished yet, declaring the Bunnies no.1 is ‘no Greg Inglis and certainly no Anthony Mundine’ before pointing out it is important to ‘respect those who paved the way for you.’
A mature Mitchell eventually called time on the spat, posting on Instagram – while draped in an Aboriginal flag – ‘the great [racial] debate will have to rest for now’.
He added in relation to the differing views it is important to ‘take it on board, learn [along the way] and move forward.’
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