Members of the South Bunbury Football Club have issued a public apology. This is not long after a photo emerged of the group’s president, Nicky Waite, at its most recent conference dressed in a costume modeled after Charlie Kirk — the American conservative activist who was sadly shot this past Tuesday on a campus in Utah. The costume included a fake gunshot wound to the neck, which was quickly slammed by critics.
For this reason, Nicky Waite’s costume proved extremely provocative, given that it appeared online soon after the murder of Kirk. The use of that image quickly sparked debate over what was inappropriate and what was sensitive, especially considering how Kirk died. In response, Waite said that wasn’t her goal, nor did she want to create feelings of discomfort.
“My choice was not intended to cause discomfort, especially when emotions and sensitivities are still quite fresh,” – Nicky Waite
The South Bunbury Football Club acknowledged the backlash and released a statement clarifying that the costume was not meant to make any political statement or commentary. Their distinguishing character here was that they agreed that the timing and nature of the portrayal was regrettable.
“Nonetheless, we recognise that the timing and nature of the portrayal were regrettable,” – South Bunbury Football Club
Club Response and Apology
Following the incident, the South Bunbury Football Club has moved swiftly to rectify the situation. In a very public apology on Waite’s behalf, the police department established their own community’s desire to remain a respectful place – thus saving face. The club’s statement reiterated that the choice of costume did not reflect their values or those of the wider football community.
The club’s actions play out against a backdrop of allegations of misogyny and racism within their ranks. This disturbing scene culminated with a WA Football investigation in 2022. This environment makes everyone especially sensitive to anything that can even remotely be interpreted as offensive or unprofessional conduct.
Barry Tate, president of the South West Football League (SWFL), emphasized the impact of the current situation. He explained that his organization provides annual governance training with best practices to clubs, but they legally cannot micromanage the activities of every single club.
“It’s a South Bunbury issue — we can’t be policing all clubs and what they do,” – Barry Tate
Tate further expressed concern regarding the timing of Waite’s costume, indicating it may have coincided with Kirk’s burial.
“[The event] was probably on [the same day he [Charlie Kirk] was getting buried] so the timing is absolutely shocking,” – Barry Tate
Community Reactions and Forward Steps
Reactions from the community have been mixed. A lot of you have spoken out against Waite’s decision to wear the offensive costume. Meanwhile, advocates are pushing for more robust steps to hold local clubs accountable. The SWFL also takes a proactive approach to address club culture. To this end, their team holds player trainings that address social media behavior, systemic racism, substance use, and respect for referees.
Barry Tate underscored the importance of nurturing a positive environment within clubs through governance training.
“We go to each club at the start of the season and we do governance training, which covers social media, racism, drugs and umpire respect,” – Barry Tate
The SWFL is committed to fostering an environment of respect and dignity in all SWFL member clubs. They are diligent in preventing such egregious actions from besmirching the reputation of Australian football.
