Aussie Rugby Star Says He 'Enjoyed' Flap Over Anti-Gay Post
Australian rugby player Israel Folau sparked an uproar last spring when he posted an anti-LGBTQ message on Instagram claiming that God's plan for gays is "HELL.. Unless they repent," and then, when that post got him in hot water with fans, fellow athletes, and his sports club, the athlete played the "persecuted for his religion" card.
Now, though, having skated by with no penalty from his team or the rugby officials, and having signed on for another four-year stint with the New South Wales team the Waratahs, Folau cops to having "enjoyed" the ruckus, Newshub reports. He also says that the experience has deepened his faith in God.
As reported at the time by EDGE, Folau had been sitting out games due to an injury at the time of his post. Waxing philosophical, Folau put up a cartoon illustrating the difference between a person's own life plan (a straight line without obstacles) and God's plan for him (a journey beset with an array of difficulties).
When a fan posted a query as to God's plan for gays in the post's comments section, Folau reponded, "HELL.. Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God."
The post was seen by many as a violation of the inclusion policies of his team and of the sport itself.
But Folau weathered the fallout handily. "It's a bit of a rollercoaster year for me," the athlete told the media about his experiences in the wake of firing off his offensive post, going on to add, "But, to be quite honest... I kind of really enjoyed what was happening off the field, not that it happened on purpose."
Folau explained that his "identity is based around my faith in God and I truly believe that from deep down inside, what was happening off the field [in the wake of the post condemning gays] , even though it was challenging and it was hard, it was actually molding me into the person" he feels he had become.
Neither Folau's initial post nor comments made since has made any overt acknowledgement of LGBTQ people of faith. But Stuff reported that the months following the post were hard enough on Folau that he contemplated quitting the sport.
Other news outlets carried the story of Folau's most recent remarks, including the New Zealand Herald.
"Obviously a lot of people will say negative things about what was happening," a quote in the Herald had Folau saying, "but it taught me to actually love and forgive them for obviously not agreeing and that's something I've learnt to take on."