This letter was written by my dear friend Celeste Harrison, and I know would be endorsed by our hero Catherine Deveny who has also made similar comments about the 'blokiness' of the footy show. You go Celeste!

The Executive Producer
The Footy Show – Melbourne
PO Box 27
Willoughby, NSW, 2068


26 September 2008



To the Executive Producer,


My mum and I have watched the Grand Final episode of the Footy Show every year without fail, and I usually find it very funny and entertaining. Last night however, I wasn’t entertained, I was appalled.

In years past the quality of the player review has really started to slide, but last nights review really takes the cake. After watching the half naked women parade around stage, I felt nothing short of dirty.

Why is it that producers of this show feel it necessary to denigrate women in the name of entertainment?

What sort of message is this sending to girls who love the game of football?

In my eyes what you’re saying to us is that our only role in football is as sexual objects.

That we are only as good as we look lying on the floor trusting our pelvis towards a footballer with his shirt off.

Is that how women in football should be portrayed? As slaves hero-worshipping men?

You have to start taking responsibility for how these things make women feel and the social culture it creates. The token efforts of celebrating women in football are not enough if this sort of thing continues.

Constantly the AFL is defending actions of players involved in lewd and sexual acts that are considered distasteful by society, and yet here, sprawled across our screen, is exactly that. It’s unnecessarily sexualising something that our country loves. You should be ashamed.

I’m 23, and hardly a prude or a radical feminist (which is what I now your boys would love to say in order to discredit my opinion), but after watching a girl straddle Brodie Holland’s face and a line of girls spreading their legs in front on the camera last night I was disgusted.

I hope you seriously consider these sentiments before producing a show so disgraceful in the future.

Regards,



Celeste Harrison