Controversial broadcaster Sam Newman has used social media to confirm his departure from Nine.
The decision comes after the former star found himself embroiled in yet another scandal this week after making derogatory comments regarding George Floyd and criticising AFL players for ‘taking a knee’ before last weekends AFL matches.
The controversial comments sparked outrage with activist group Sleeping Giants launching a campaign against the presenter calling on all AFL clubs to boycott the Sunday Footy Show program.
Love him or hate him, Newman was the heart and soul of the AFL Footy Show throughout its broadcast run from 1994 to 2018.
The entire format was built around him. If he was engaged, the show was electric. If he was disinterested (a regular occurrence in later years) the entire format fell apart.
At his peak he was the networks biggest star and attracted a paycheck to match. But there was also numerous controversies, and as the ratings declined over the years, new management was less willing to tolerate his behaviour.
By 2018 Newman had run his race as a primetime TV host. Unwilling to adjust his broadcast style to modern standards he spectacularly quit on-air, but remained with the network and continued to appear in pre-recorded segments for the Sunday program.
Nine confirmed the departure of Newman after 35 years at the network with a spokesperson tonight stating;