- Came out in 2013 in revealing front page admission
- Was targeted by troll while doing radio segment
A leading Australian sports journalist has revealed why he had to quit his radio spot with SEN after being target by a homophobic troll.
Andrew Webster is an award-winning Australian sports journalist who has worked across print, radio, and television.
He is best known as the Chief Sports Writer for the Sydney Morning Herald and as a regular commentator on rugby league and major sporting issues.
In 2013, Webster revealed in a deeply personal essay that was published as a front page story that he was gay.
He described years of shame and self-loathing before finally accepting himself at 26.
The public disclosure marked a turning point, allowing him to live openly and contribute to broader conversations about acceptance in sport and media.
Andrew Webster is an award-winning journalist that came out as gay in 2013 in a huge personal admission
Webster was filling in at SEN with former Roosters and Souths footy star Bryan Fletcher when the abusive text messages started coming through
Webster had worked at the network in various capacities since 2020, including working on the Morning Glory with Matty Johns show on Fridays.
Webster was filling in at SEN on The Run Home program with former NRL star Bryan Fletcher when abusive messages started coming in through the station’s text line.
That was the catalyst for Webster handing in his resignation, but not just because of the nature of the text messages.
‘I didn’t quit because of the bloke who was texting me. I quit because I asked SEN three times last week to block his number and it just didn’t happen,’ Webster told News Corp.
‘The guy has been chipping away at me all year, and I just brushed it off.’
While Webster has deflected messages from the troll for years, he said the most recent messages went too far.
‘I asked the next morning for him to be blocked,’ he said.
‘When I heard his texts being read out that night, I emailed the content director and asked again for him to be blocked.
SEN boss Craig Hutchison said the audience member had been blocked and that Webster was welcome to return
‘I got into the studio last Saturday for Saturday League Kick-off and I saw that this bloke still hadn’t been blocked, because his texts were coming through. I was pretty angry.
‘I asked the producer for the number to be blocked and he laughed at me. The listener still wasn’t blocked because nobody knew how to do it.
‘So I resigned when I came off air three hours later. I can’t control what blokes yell from passing cars, or on social media, but I can control where I work.’
Webster said the issue was not about the abuse, but the lack of action from the network.
‘I’m not a victim,’ he said.
‘I’m not a snowflake. I’ve had to deal with a lot worse homophobia than that.
‘I’ve received a lot of supportive messages the last few days saying not to let the bastards wear me down.
‘They haven’t. I simply wanted a phone number blocked and when SEN couldn’t do that I resigned on principle.’
SEN boss Craig Hutchison said the door remained open for Webster to return.
‘Andrew is a quality person, broadcaster and journalist who we have the highest respect for and really value as a person and contributor to SEN,’ he said.
‘Our SEN team works hard to ensure that all our on air talent are treated with respect and care. Some audience feedback inadvertently reached Andrew which was entirely inappropriate and out of line – and which has been dealt with the listener accordingly.
‘The door is always open for Andrew to return at any stage.
‘He has our full respect.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .