Mitch Brown, the first openly queer AFL player, has come forward with claims he was confronted about his sexuality by an employee of “one of Australia’s biggest media organisations”.
Mitch — who came out as bisexual in August — made the claims in a video shared to Instagram on Friday. He said the incident took place while he was attending Lady Gaga’s concert in Melbourne, where he was approached by an unnamed woman in the bathroom.
“I get confronted by a staff member of one of Australia’s biggest media organisations and she goes, ‘I’ve been meaning to talk to you and you know, can I just say this … I just don’t believe you,’” Mitch claimed.
“‘I just don’t believe it. I don’t believe you’re bisexual. I just need you to prove it to me’,” he recalled.
Mitch said the incident left him feeling “thrown” and “a bit put off” because he is accustomed to such comments on social media but has “never had it in person before”.
“I was a little bit confronted,” he added.
After doing his “best” to explain himself to the woman, Mitch claimed she doubled-down on her suspicions over his sexuality.
“I felt like I had to explain it, so I did my best, and then she goes, ‘Oh, so you’re just gay then.’”
The former West Coast Eagles player stopped short of revealing the woman’s identity, but said the interaction was one reason for his “fear” about dealing with “football media”.
“People ask me why I’ve been really apprehensive of talking to traditional football media, and this is just an example of why that fear for me still exists,” Mitch said.
In a statement provided to PEDESTRIAN.TV, Mitch said, “sexuality isn’t something anyone should ever have to prove to anyone.”
“My hope is that mainstream media invests in better education so reporters and staff can approach these conversations with respect and understanding, and challenge their own biases,” Mitch said.
In a follow-up post on his Instagram Stories, Mitch thanked his supporters for their “beautiful comments and messages” and said the interaction “didn’t ruin” his experience at the concert.
“Nothing could ruin this,” he wrote alongside a snap of Gaga on stage.
It marks the latest time Mitch has openly combatted homophobia in the wake of his landmark coming out.
Earlier this year, he called out the AFL clubs that remained silent following his announcement, and was one of multiple people to criticise Geelong Cats player Bailey Smith for his controversial Mad Monday costume.
More recently, Mitch reflected on the abuse and death threats he has received over his decision to call out the Geelong Cats.
Lead images: Instagram
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