
Former Wallabies star and disgraced rugby player Israel Folau has had a GoFundMe campaign to help fund his legal battle against Rugby Australia shut down.
Folau started the GoFundMe campaign last week, asking people to donate $3 million in order to fight Rugby Australia, which last month terminated his contract as a fullback for the Wallabies after he shared a number of homophobic posts to his Instagram account claiming that homosexuals would 'burn in hell'.
After being created on 18 June, the campaign had raised nearly $750,000. GoFundMe said that more than $1 million had been donated to hundreds of campaigns across Australia since Folau launched his appeal for cash
In a statement about the decision, the crowdfunding giant said:
While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.
GoFundMe's Australian regional director Nicola Brittan also commented:
We are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusively.
Rugby Australia's chief executive Raelene Castle condemned Folau's public appeal for money. Speaking to ABC News, he said:
From our perspective, [GoFundMe] is a place where sick children get support, so it's certainly not a strategy we think is appropriate.
Many social media users praised the decision.
Wow. @gofundme (who, one notes, has the 🏳️🌈 emoji on its twitter handle) makes a very strong and clear statement b… https://t.co/635sAVXtmI— Nadia Daly (@Nadia Daly) 1561336571
However, some called the decision 'illiberal'.
And said that GoFundMe was rigged against Christians.
Hey @gofundme, I’m still waiting to hear about my full #refundplusinterest for @IzzyFolau and also request that you… https://t.co/3aWyz96ZMq— XVI's Mom (@XVI's Mom) 1561366046
While others suggested that the funds were re-donated to LGBT+ charities.
A total of $765k was donated to @IzzyFolau’s @gofundme page.. That amount is set to be refunded to all those who d… https://t.co/7vveuWCm0p— Drew Mitchell (@Drew Mitchell) 1561360968
Or perhaps they would use the funds for... something else?
Shattered I never got the chance to donate to Israel Folau’s GoFundMe. Will instead use the money to buy a fireproo… https://t.co/leT5m3p8um— Darcy Vescio (@Darcy Vescio) 1561369182
The rainbow goddess has spoken!
Hey @IzzyFolau the rainbow goddess has spoken - she says read the terms and conditions in contracts 😉… https://t.co/hZ5CoLNQ3K— Grouchy Alpacas (@Grouchy Alpacas) 1561360984
Others simply described the decision as 'amazing news'.
The disgraced rugby star also issued a response to the suspension, saying that the decision to delete the page was 'very disappointing':
statement from Israel Folau re: GoFundMe: - claims his website was targeted by "a sustained cyberattack" - says c… https://t.co/Zxe1kACTqB— Josh Butler (@Josh Butler) 1561356583
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