Embattled AFL Footy Show co-host Sam Newman has phoned a female politician to clarify controversial comments made about her on last night’s episode.
After a clip was aired of Tasmanian MP Paula Wriedt commenting on a major sponsorship deal backing a new Tasmanian AFL team, the controversial Newman quipped: "We couldn't get her on, could we?"
The remark sparked a raucous reaction from the audience and panel, before Newman continued: "Worthy of coming on, her."
But his risque comments on last night's show immediately drew the ire of co-host James Brayshaw, who berated Newman telling him: "Sam you cannot say that."
This morning, the Nine Network released a statement defending its star, who has only been back on the network for a month after he was ordered to take leave indefinitely in May.
"There was never any intention to insult Paula Wriedt, and any suggestion to the contrary is grossly unfair," Nine's executive producer of entertainment Tim Cleary said in a statement.
"Sam Newman was simply suggesting Ms Wriedt should be a guest on the program given the news of Tasmania's backing.
"Sam qualified this moments later when he realised he'd been taken out of context.
"Sam is horrified at suggestions he made a lewd remark about Ms Wriedt, and phoned her to clarify his comment."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou also supported Newman, saying he believed the comment was an honest slip of the tongue.
"I think it was a slip, I understood what he said, I didn't take the double meaning in it, I understand why people might," he told Fairfax today.
"I know James Brayshaw did and he took it up with Sam.
"I'm starting to really in some ways sort of question if everything Sam said is going to be scrutinised and analysed, I think we are going to start becoming terribly unfair.
"He went out of his way to say that he didn't say that and I think you've got to take him on face value."
Newman was urged to seek counselling in May after almost two months of controversy as he recovered from surgery to remove a cancerous prostate.
