Sam Newman photo sparks immediate backlash

Sam Newman has come under fire for promoting a new episode of his podcast that features two prominent 'neo Nazis' as guests.

The AFL legend, who hosts the You Cannot Be Serious podcast, made headlines after posting a photo of himself with Blair Cottrell and Thomas Sewell to promote the latest episode. 

“Today Thomas Sewell and I had a chat with footy icon Sam Newman. Keep an out for the podcast!” Cottrell captioned the photo of the trio.

Cottrell was the first ever Australian to be charged with hate speech after he was convicted in September 2017, and Sewell was listed as one of more than a dozen alleged neo-Nazis following a protest in Adelaide on January 26th.

Cottrell, who is the United Patriots Front leader, was convicted alongside two of his supporters for inciting hatred, contempt and ridicule of Muslims after making a video beheading a dummy in protest of a Bendigo mosque.

Sewell is the Victorian-based leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN), who has railed against “corrupt police” and an “anti-white government” in an online fundraiser which he hopes will allow him to “transition into a full-time role”.

While the episode of Newman's podcast doesn't air until Wednesday, the photo was enough to welcome a wave of scrutiny towards Newman. 

CODE Sports’ chief cricket writer Daniel Cherny asked on X if the promotion of two prominent neo-Nazis was “enough to be booted out of the Australian Football Hall of Fame?”

Hundreds of fans agreed, with many taking to social media to ask how the AFL, and Newman's former club the Geelong Cats, would respond to the men being given a platform. 

One person wrote: “I’m wondering if consorting with out and proud Nazis is enough of a blot on your copybook to be removed from the AFL Hall of Fame? What do you reckon, AFL? How about you, Geelong Cats?”

Hours after the image of the trio was posted, Newman took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a statement claiming he had been asked to not publish the episode, which he has denied. 

“I interviewed Thomas Sewell and Blair Cottrell … neo-Nazis on You Cannot Be Serious podcast,” Newman said.

“I haven’t posted it yet but I was asked by a journalist because Blair Cottrell posted a picture of him and me and Thomas Sewell on X and I’m associated now with being a neo-Nazi."

“I replied to the journalist who said is it appropriate to put this on and chat about who they are and I said I by no means condone what they’re on but I thought they’re people of interest and I’m going to put it to air."

“If you think I’m a Nazi, so be it. Why don’t you have a look at what they say and what I ask them and you make your mind up.”

Image credits: X (Twitter)