This is Australia in 2019: Rugby star apologises for ‘offending fans’ after declaring ‘I love Jesus’ and quoting the Bible at EASTER
- Queensland Reds captain Samu Kerevi wrote ‘Thank you Jesus’ in the post
- The sports star sparked controversy with bible verse quote in his Easter post
- The 25-year-old apologised for offending fans with his Instagram post
Rugby star Samu Kerevi has apologised for ‘offending’ fans after declaring ‘I love Jesus’ in an Instagram post at Easter.
The Queensland Reds captain caused controversy among fans when he shared a Bible verse on his Instagram account on Easter Thursday.
The Fijian-born sports star, 25, posted a picture of him from a recent match with the caption: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Kerevi added: ‘Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for me. I love you Jesus.’
Rugby star Samu Kerevi (pictured above) has apologised to fans after a social media post in which he declared ‘I love you Jesus’
Kerevi (pictured with his girlfriend Aniva Sesega) posted a picture of him from a recent match with a well-known Bible verse from the gospel of John
While most fans supported Kerevi for promoting his religious beliefs, some questioned whether he would show publicly declare his support for gay Australians.
‘I know a lot of gay kids and adults in our sport would love to hear a rugby leader like you say you love and respect them for who they are – are you willing to endorse that message?’ wrote one fan.
‘I hope you don’t support Israel’s comments Samu,’ added a second.
Kerevi later apologised for upsetting some fans with his Easter post, The Australian reported.
The rugby ace dedicated his apology to ‘anyone that I have offended in giving praise to our God on a weekend that we take off to celebrate his sacrifice for you and I’.
The bizarre apology comes as Rugby Australia prepares to hold a hearing about whether star Israel Folau should be stripped of his multi-million dollar contract for saying gays would ‘go to hell’.
Rugby Australia will hold a hearing into the Folau matter on Saturday.
The 30-year-old, who is a devout Christian, was handed a ‘high level’ breach notice over posts he made on social media on Twitter and Instagram on April 10.
Folau wrote on Instagram: ‘Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves.’
Some rugby fans questioned whether he would show publicly declare his support for gay Australians (pictured is the ‘offensive’ Instagram post)
The rugby star, who earlier this year signed a multi-million dollar contract extension with the New South Wales Waratahs and Rugby Australia until the end of 2022, was pictured on Sunday for the first time since the controversy.
Folau, who married New Zealand netball star Maria Tutaia in 2017, was spotted attending a service at the Uniting Church in Kenhurst, north west of Sydney.
The outspoken athlete is no stranger to controversy, landing in hot water back in April 2018, when he said gay people deserved to go to ‘HELL… unless they repent of their sins and turn to God’ in another Instagram post.
Folau also faced backlash the previous year after tweeting that he did not support gay marriage in the run up to the 2017 same-sex marriage vote.
‘I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions, but personally, I will not support gay marriage,’ he said at the time.
Israel Folau (pictured at church on Sunday) is waiting to hear the verdict of Rugby Australia on his contract
