# @pinknews on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DPA65FSjA3W
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34946137-pinknews-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/aaf64b88fd.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-09-25T06:00:42.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** PinkNews (@pinknews) — https://gondola.cc/pinknews

## Caption

Mitch Brown, the first out bisexual player in the AFL (Australian Football League), has said he ‘doesn’t blame’ Izak Rankine for his use of a homophobic slur earlier this year.

Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine received a four-match ban (after initially receiving a five-match suspension) following the use of a homophobic slur in a 16 August AFL game against Collingwood Football Club.

Speaking on The Imperfects podcast, Brown revealed that he “doesn’t blame” Rankine for the use of the slur, instead pointing to a larger culture of homophobia in the sport.

“I don’t blame Izak Rankine,” Brown said. “I would never point out an individual, I would never do that, because it’s more than that, it’s bigger than that, it’s cultural, it’s systematic.”

“The reason why I reached out is I watched him on screen apologising for what he did after he went away and came back from overseas, and I could feel the hurt and heaviness on him,” Brown continued.

“I just wanted to let him know that it’s not his fault. He’s not a bad person. He’s still an incredible role model. I wanted him to know that. I was like, ‘I need to share this with him, it may mean something.'”

#LGBTQNews #MitchBrown #IzakRankine #AFL #Sports

## Stats

- **Views:** 32,486
- **Likes:** 2,233
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 43

## Tags

izakrankine, afl, sports, lgbtqnews, mitchbrown

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