Dani Laidley lashed out at the ABC’s Four Corners on Monday, after it made the bold claim the AFL is homophobic.
The 56-year-old, who played in the AFL between 1987 and 1997, told the Herald Sun she was upset the ABC current affairs program suggested the sporting code was prejudiced.
‘I was livid at the Four Corners episode where they labelled the AFL homophobic. Absolutely not the case,’ she told the publication at the premiere of the Stan Original documentary, Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes in Melbourne.
In the Four Corners report on homosexuality in footy, former AFL star Bob Murphy lashed out at fellow AFL star Jason Akermanis, who wrote a column urging footy players to ‘stay in the closet’.
Murphy said on ABC’s Four Corners he was ‘disgusted’, ’embarrassed’ and ‘hurt’ by Akermanis’ controversial comments.
Dani Laidley lashed out at Four Corners on Monday, after it made the bold claim the AFL is homophobic. Pictured
At the time in 2010, Akermanis doubled down on the comments made in the column, telling Channel Nine that he felt gay players would be targeted if they did come out.
‘There’s been a little bit of a gay hunting going on where we’re trying to get people to come out,’ he told the Nine Network today.
‘I’m not sure that’s very safe and healthy for the competition. What you do in your private life is your business.’
Akermanis was sacked by the Bulldogs two months after the column was published.
She went on to say she would always be grateful for how her AFL colleagues and CEO Gillion McLachlan were there for her when she first came out as transgender.
‘When you live in fear, shame and embarrassment because of what people think of you, when it all turns to s**t they were the first people there,’ she said.
‘I can’t put into words how grateful I am they’ve accepted me. Through my journey I perhaps always thought maybe one day football would kill me, but invariably it saved my life. No question.’
Prior to transitioning, Danielle played in the AFL for West Coast and then North Melbourne as Dean Laidley,
She came out as transgender in 2019 and later began a relationship with her childhood sweetheart Donna Leckie.
Meanwhile, Danielle was absolutely glowing at the premiere of her new documentary on Monday.
The former AFL great was proudly supported by her son, Kane, at the first screening for the Stan Original documentary, Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes in Melbourne.
The 56-year-old also looked loved-up as she posed alongside her loyal childhood sweetheart Donna Leckie on the red carpet.
The 56-year-old, who played in the AFL between 1987 and 1997, told the Herald Sun she was upset the ABC current affairs program suggested the sporting code was prejudiced. Pictured: Danielle with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan
It comes after Laidley revealed the huge risk she took while she was still hiding her true self from family, friends and footy stars while she was coaching at North Melbourne.
The new Stan Original documentary Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes shows Dani meeting former teammates and players for the first time since her struggle with her gender identity and transition to a woman became public knowledge.
Laidley receives a warm and emotional welcome from footy greats Peter Bell, Matthew ‘Spider’ Burton and Adam Simpson, with the latter welcoming her to his house with a kiss on the cheek and the words, ‘Been a long time, mate.’
‘I was livid at the Four Corners episode where they labelled the AFL homophobic. Absolutely not the case,’ she told the publication at the premiere of the Stan Original documentary, Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes in Melbourne. Pictured: Danielle with her partner Donna Leckie
