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John Hopoate slammed for 'disgraceful' attack on Erin Molan

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read
Erin Molan and John Hopoate, pictured here in 2019.
John Hopoate has threatened Erin Molan with violence. Image: Getty

John Hopoate has taken the backlash against Erin Molan to disturbing new levels, threatening the NRL presenter with violence.

Molan is at the centre of controversy after appearing to mock the names of Polynesian players during an on-air gaffe on 2GB radio last week.

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Discussing the pronunciation of Pacific Islander names in the NRL, Molan said ‘hooka looka mooka hooka fooka’ - prompting her confused co-hosts to quickly change the subject.

A number of NRL players have slammed Molan after the gaffe was passed off as an ‘inside joke’ between her and fellow commentator Darryl Brohman.

But Hopoate has now weighed in and taken things way too far.

“It was an inside joke between colleagues so it’s OK,” Hopoate posted on Instagram on Monday with a photo of Molan.

“Just like when I accidentally trip this RACIST B***H over and she falls and scrapes her RACIST mouth on the ground.

“But I won’t apologise cause it’s an inside joke between friends.”

Hopoate responded to one user’s comment that “Racism is bad and so is bullying” by saying “bullying is good if they deserve it”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Hopoate (@hop555) on

Kerri-Anne Kennerly slams John Hopoate

Hopoate was widely condemned for the disturbing comments, with Kerri-Anne Kennerley describing his attack as ‘disgraceful’.

“I know her and I really like her. For any boofhead to come out and suggest violence against any woman … that behaviour has to be called out,” Kennerley told the Daily Telegraph.

“It drives me mad in this climate that the people who are so politically correct are the most intolerant people of anyone else.

“(Molan) is not a malicious person and wouldn’t do anything deliberately hurtful.”

Manly superstar Martin Taupau was among a number of NRL players to hit out at Molan.

Taupau, who is of Samoan heritage, took to Twitter on Friday evening to declare his grandfather would be ‘turning in his grave’ over Molan’s attempts at humour.

“Understandable for our non-Pasifika community attempting to properly announce our names, but to disrespect and make a mockery of former/current Pasifika players in the NRL like how you carried on is DISGRACEFUL!” Taupau wrote.

“My grandfather would be tossing in his grave in anger!”

Cronulla forward Braden Hamlin-Uele was also fuming.

“An inside joke? Show some respect!,” Hamlin-Uele said in an Instagram story.

“If that’s a joke between colleagues then F that workplace. Get out of the job @ErinMolan.

“Disgusting to even think that would be ok, to put on an accent and say that. Wake up to yourself.”

Erin Molan, pictured here at the Indigenous All-Stars game in February.
Erin Molan looks on during the Indigenous All-Stars game in February. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

And New Zealand-born Samoa rugby star Augustino Junior Poluleuligaga called on players to boycott being involved in broadcasts with Molan.

“I hope the poly boys in the NRL decline her when being asked to do an interview or anything to do with her until she apologises," he wrote.

“I know how it feels. It used to make me feel embarrassed + angry when I should have been feeling proud along with my family. Inside joke my ass.”

Erin Molan misses chance to apologise

Molan and Channel Nine defended the gaffe, telling the Daily Mail she was just referencing an earlier story Brohman had told and that any perceived racial insensitivity on Molan’s part was just a ‘misunderstanding’.

Molan had an opportunity to issue an apology on Sunday when she hosted Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

The fact that the TV host failed to do so prompted another wave of backlash from viewers.