When Roger Federer and his PR team sent a video message to a 79-year-old Australian broadcaster they never anticipated the backlash it would attract.
The 20-time grand slam champion was one of a series of top names to pay tribute to Alan Jones. A former national rugby coach who has recently announced he is stepping down from his media commitments due to health reasons. During an interview with Sky News Australia, which he works for, Jones was shown a video of Federer wishing him well for the future.
“Alan, it’s Roger here. I wanted to wish you all the very best for what’s to come, and many congratulations on an amazing 35-year career in the media business,” Federer said.
“Take care and all the best.”
Federer wasn’t the only person to send their well wishes. Others include athletics great Usian Bolt and Lleyton Hewitt, who hailed Jones for the support he has received over the years. However, it is a little bit more complex than that for Federer.
In case it gets nixed – here's the Sky News Australia video and page: https://t.co/bc194cKS67https://t.co/hskUU3kLHVhttps://t.co/HeLYUAwrVt pic.twitter.com/s5vZXjzUcz
— I'm @Ketanjoshi.co on Bluesky (@KetanJ0) May 27, 2020
In his home country Jones is a renowned but controversial figure who has been in trouble numerous times. He has been accused of sexism against a series of top female officials. One of the most notable being back in 2012 when he said the then Prime Minister Julia Gillard was a liar and her father ‘died of shame.’ He was involved in the cash for comment scandal back in 1999, which uncovered that a series of radio hosts was paid to say favourable stuff about certain companies. In another incident he suggested that Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down the throat” of the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, and that she should be “backhanded”.
In the aftermath of the backlash, it has since emerged that Federer’s video has been removed from Jones’ Instagram account as well as the 2GB website, which is the radio station the broadcaster also works for. Although an archive copy of it can be seen here. It is unclear if that action was done due to the backlash or if it was due to a request from Federer’s team.
It is unclear as to how familiar Federer is with Jones or if the two have even met in person. UbiTennis tried to find online evidence of the two at least talking at some stage over the past 10 years and was unable to find a single news source that mentioned this. The only reference that involves the two was back in 2011 when Jones said cricketer Nathan Bracken was the ‘Roger Federer of one day cricket.’ Hardly proof of the two being friends or even acquaintances at some point.
The video from Federer was secured by James Willis, who is the producer of Jones’ show. Although it is unclear as to how he went about it and how much the Swiss maestro actually knew about the person he sent it to. A somewhat confusing and bizarre situation for the tennis great.
Transcript of Jones’ reaction to Federer’s message whilst live on 2GB.
Willis: Last Friday I managed to secure a farewell from Usain Bolt for you. I may have gone one better, with the greatest tennis player in the modern era. Here we go.
[message from Federer plays]
Willis: That’s not bad. come one, Usain Bolt last Friday, Roger…
Jones: Shut up
Willis: I’ve got one more. How can I outdo that? any requests?
Jones: [laughing]
[both laughing]
Jones: Oh dear, Riley, save me will you? Goodness me.
Willis: Play it again
Jones: Yeah play it again
[message plays]
Jones: Isn’t that lovely. a lovely human being. We could tell a few stories there I could tell you…
Source – https://ketanjoshi.co
