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Aussie NBA Star Ben Simmons Has Labelled The Footy Show As 'Idiots'

Aussie NBA Star Ben Simmons Has Labelled The Footy Show As 'Idiots'

The AFL television show went after Simmons during his trip to Down Under – now the Philadelphia 76ers star has fired back.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Ben Simmons has taken aim at the Sunday Footy Show team, labelling co-host Kane Cornes as an "idiot".

The comments have reignited a 12-month long feud between the NBA superstar and the AFL television show.

Last year, the Aussie engaged in a war of words via social media with former Port Adelaide player Cornes following his visit Down Under.

Simmons made headlines after stating he was racially profiled during a trip to the Crown Casino in Melbourne.


The Philadelphia 76ers guard and his group of friends were subsequently denied entry to the venue, but reports later surfaced claiming that the reason for their barring was because Simmons failed to produce ID.

This resulted in Cornes and the Footy Show going after Simmons relentlessly during his entire visit to Australia.

And it was during his time among AFL teams that he copped the most criticism.

"I'm sick of Ben Simmons. Head back to Philadelphia, Simmons," Cornes said on the Sunday Footy Show after seeing the 24-year-old don a Melbourne Demons jumper despite being an Essendon Bombers fan.


"He was there at the Essendon game, then he's down at Punt Road. So he's an Essendon supporter, a massive one, he's gone to Punt Road and then he's got a Melbourne jumper on yesterday.

"Ben, which is it? Pick your team! Head off son."

It didn't take long for Simmons' rebuttal.

He initially took to social media to slam Cornes for his comments, but now - almost 12 months later - the Sixers star has finally voiced how he really feels.

Ben Simmons and LeBron James.
PA

"The only backlash I've had would be from bad writers, media people. They had some people on The Footy Show who were just idiots," Simmons told host Linda Marigliano for the DoMore campaign.

"I don't know his name. It just opened my eyes and made me realise that I'm old enough to know that's wrong and if you want to say certain things on TV and go about it that way then it just shows how you are."

The DoMore campaign is a powerful movement which encourages all Australians to come forward and share their experiences of racism and injustice.


Some of the biggest names in Australian sports and media have been involved - Simmons being one of them.

"I've had different altercations," he said.

"A recent one, was in Australia when I was back home. I felt myself and my friends were discriminated against, and were racially profiled. It was definitely a shock for me.

"It felt good that I had a lot of support. For me to speak up, I wanted to give other people that courage to feel the same way. Just because your appearance may be a little different, or you're from somewhere else, it doesn't matter. You shouldn't take people being negative, racist toward you, or feel less of a person."

Featured Image Credit: Instagram

Topics: afl, Basketball, Aussie, NBA, Ben Simmons, Australia