Swann under fire for rape comment
Another social media blunder following the third Ashes Test has been made, this time by England cricketer Graeme Swann.
The spin bowler is the latest to make offensive remarks on social media, likening England’s Ashes defeat to being a***-raped.
The comments were posted on Facebook in a conversation between Swann and his brother, Alec, who mentioned he had been to see a band in Northampton.
Swann, wallowing in defeat after conceding the Ashes to Australia responded, saying “Rather have been there than being a***-raped in Perth.”
The comments have incensed rape charities, with calls for an apology from Swann. He delivered such via twitter this morning.
"Sorry to anyone who was offended by my comments in the papers today. Crass and thoughtless of me in the extreme," Swann wrote
Support groups were outraged.
"We are appalled that Graeme Swann equates a cricket match with the devastatingly serious crime of rape," Yvonne Traynor, chief executive of the Rape Crisis charity said.
"These comments lack compassion and intelligence and he should apologise to anyone who has suffered from this heinous crime."
Swann’s comments follow a candid outburst on Twitter from Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris, who tweeted his disgust at Perth’s Crown Casino after he was denied entry after the team regained the Ashes on Wednesday night."A tip for all those heading to Perth! Avoid the crown or casino! S*** hole can't get in if you have had a drink #s***place#d***heads," Harris' tweet read before it was deleted.WA all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was on stand-by for the Test and also took part in the celebrations, also tweeted: "Crown casino wouldn't let the team that won the Ashes onto the premises because security were on a power trip. Worst place!."But Watson, whose blistering century in Perth was part of the famous win, attempted to dilute any lingering animosity by a gentle teasing of the vanquished English foes."Shane Warne was very kind to put on a party for us at the Crown Casino. It was a brilliant night to get everyone together," Watson said.Watson said he had retired to bed before Harris' run-in with the security, but when asked whether they may have stood a bit firmer than the English replied: "Well I wasn't there for it, but maybe they did.""Obviously things for a period of time might not have gone exactly right. But in the end we were just there to have a great time.
"There was no intention other than making the most of winning the Ashes back."
A croaky-voiced and sheepish Harris apologised on Wednesday afternoon when he arrived in Melbourne."Obviously I made a silly mistake this morning and I tweeted something I probably shouldn't have," he said."It was a silly thing to do - they let me in in the end, so they did the right thing."But they have to do their job and they were doing it."As I've heard many times before, don't tweet when you've had a drink."
