AFL head Gillon McLachlan has intervened in the controversy over Geelong Legend Billy Brownless' sexist gaffe, where he called a mother and daughter "strippers" at a junior football function.
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Mr McLachlan spoke with Channel Nine Managing Director Ian Paterson on Wednesday morning about the Footy Show star's "very silly mistake" and also talked with Mr Brownless' management behind the scenes.
"I know that he [Brownless] is mortified because his comments were clearly inappropriate," Mr McLachlan said. "I think that he, as a father of two young girls, is horrified at what he's done because it is not appropriate and ultimately he's just made a very silly mistake."
"Channel Nine will make the decisions about the football show but I think that hopefully by leadership on this issue and demonstrating a clear commitment to women everywhere … that ultimately change happens across our industry."
The AFL's chief executive officer was responding to an open letter published today in which the anonymous mother called on him to force the Footy Show to change its "thug-like" culture and appoint a female producer.
The mother and her 18-year-old daughter were passing through a luncheon at the Glenferrie Hotel for the Hawthorn Citizens Junior Football Club on Friday when Mr Brownless, the MC at the event, announced "here comes the strippers".
The gaffe came on the same day that a Fremantle Dockers fan was caught on camera punching a woman in the face at Domain Stadium.
A spokesperson for Channel Nine confirmed Mr Brownless would appear as usual on Thursday's Grand Final edition of the show.
"The matter has been dealt with internally and it has not been taken lightly," she said. "We have disciplined Billy and he fully understands his actions were unacceptable. We will not tolerate such behaviour." She declined to say how he had been disciplined.
"This is not about the Footy Show. We have a responsibility as an industry to ensure people are treated with respect and dignity. There is no place for derogatory remarks or behaviour in our organisation," she said.
Mr Brownless did not respond to a request for comment, however he apologised earlier in the week saying "it was stupid".
"There's no excuse for it. I have daughters of my own and I would be mortified and angry if anyone said such remarks about them. I am deeply sorry for what I said and the hurt I have caused," he said on Sunday.
The Footy Show host Garry Lyon declined to comment.
