This Photo Upset A Bunch Of Sexist Trolls, Now It’s More Popular Than Ever
It would be a shame if this photo ended up being shared everywhere...
Football fans have rallied around AFLW star Tayla Harris after a spectacular photo of her during Sunday’s Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs pride match became a target for misogynistic abuse.
Channel 7 posted the snap of Harris kicking for goal on its social media accounts on Tuesday, only for the image to attract a number of sexist comments from men who might generously be described as mouthbreathing fuckwits.
Rather than moderate the comments, Channel 7 decided to delete the photo, sparking a wave of outrage from fans who rightfully pointed out that the photo was not the problem.
Deleting the post is giving in to trolls. Also, you’re eliminating all the positive conversation. Also, you’re removing more content around women in sport – which there’s already so little of.
It’s up to everyone to moderate hate.#taylaharris
📷 @MichaelCWillson pic.twitter.com/CRkYDrZpQK— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) March 19, 2019
the comments were inappropriate and offensive, not the photo.
— Brodie Lancaster (@brodielancaster) March 19, 2019
The image was amazing and not the problem at all. To deal with men being douche canoes, you remove the image of a woman, making all of us invisible? How is that a good solution?#WomenInSport
— Danielle Warby (@DanielleWarby) March 19, 2019
AFL photographer Michael Willson, who took the original photo, reposted the image to his social media with the caption “take that trolls”.
Take this, trolls 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/dbCYvVoFET
— Michael Willson (@MichaelCWillson) March 19, 2019
The photo was subsequently reshared by the official AFL and AFLW accounts, as well as AFL star Patrick Dangerfield, former player turned mental health advocate Wayne Schwass, head of the AFLW Nicole Livingstone and hundreds of others.
🙌🏻🙌🏻💪🏻💪🏻 #Fthehaters pic.twitter.com/wkaGFzncZ2
— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) March 19, 2019
This is Tayla Harris – epic athlete & footballer. This is AFLW. pic.twitter.com/JIbFvhqwTm
— AFL Women’s (@aflwomens) March 19, 2019
This is a brilliant athlete in full flight. Something to celebrate. Just over three years ago women did not play Australian Football at the elite level. The result of this leap – a goal from 40m out. @aflwomens @taylaharriss #taylaharris https://t.co/HJsxAYsROD
— Nicole Livingstone (@NicLiv) March 19, 2019
there’s a thousand mediocre dudes but there’s only one Tayla Harris pic.twitter.com/Jemqeryb0p
— andie (@anndeejam) March 19, 2019
Look familiar? And I bet Ted didn’t cop the filth #taylaharris has been subjected to. We have a long way to go in Australia. @taylaharriss @AFL @aflwomens @BreakfastNews pic.twitter.com/D9X2pMv9h1
— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) March 19, 2019
Harris also shared the photo of herself, along with a message for the “animals” who attacked her.
Here’s a pic of me at work… think about this before your derogatory comments, animals. pic.twitter.com/68aBVVbTTj
— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) March 19, 2019
Channel 7 ultimately reposted the image late on Tuesday night along with an apology admitting they needed to work harder to combat trolls.
We’re sorry. Removing the photo sent the wrong message.
Many of the comments made on the post were reprehensible & we’ll work harder to ban trolls from our pages.
Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we’ll continue to celebrate women’s footy. pic.twitter.com/p24Ll08LRC
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 19, 2019