Fremantle captain Alex Pearce counselled over social media post relating to war in Gaza

7NEWS

05-05-2025

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has been counselled after he shared a post on social media which caused offence to the Jewish community.
Late last month, the AFL defender reshared a post from Irish hip hop band Kneecap relating to the war in Gaza.
The post read: 'Let us be absolutely clear. The reason Kneecap is being targeted is simple — we are telling the truth, and our audience is growing. Those attacking us want to silence criticism of a mass slaughter.
'They weaponize false accusations of antisemitism to distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.
'We do not give a f*** what religion anyone practices. We know there are massive numbers of Jewish people outraged by this genocide just as we are. What we care about is that governments of the countries we perform in are enabling some of the most horrific crimes of our lifetimes - and we will not stay silent.'
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir was asked by Jewish AFL reporter Ronny Lerner after his side's game on Friday if Pearce would issue an apology to the Jewish community.
'Earlier in the week, your captain caused quite significant offence and distress to the Jewish community. Will he apologise at any stage or not?' Lerner asked during the post-match press conference.
Longmuir responded: 'I'm not going to sit here and talk to Pearcey.
'I know the club's had discussions with Pearcey. I wasn't involved in those discussions, so I'll leave that one.'
Raising the issue on Monday night's episode of The Agenda Setters, Caroline Wilson said it's a story that 'has been bubbling under the surface'.
'No one has been prepared to talk about this, the AFL isn't prepared to make a comment about this,' she said.
'Simon Garlick hasn't been prepared to say anything publicly, nor Alex Pearce's manager, Tim Hazel, who said he was out of reach last week, but he's available now and he still doesn't want to say anything.
'Alex Pearce had a view, liked a couple of posts of the Irish band, Kneecap, and they're strong Palestinian supporters.
'I'm not taking a position on this, but I can tell you that there are many people in the AFL Jewish community who are very upset by the social media post put up by Alex Pearce.
'Alex Pearce has been counselled; apparently he's been explained away as being naive.
'But as I say, there are people within the AFL who are very disappointed that, given the harsh penalties the AFL chose to place on some players, like those involved in Wacky Wednesday, that they're not prepared to make a comment about this.
'I'll leave it at that.'