Folau breaks silence on public backlash
Silver Ferns star netball shooter Maria Folau has broken her silence on recent criticism from the public.
Folau, who confirmed her signing with the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Tuesday to play in the 2019 Australian Super Netball competition, has been subjected to online criticism since she supported homophobic comments made by her husband, Israel Folau.
Thunderbirds fans expressed their disappointment on social media after the confirmed signing of the Silver Ferns star slamming the franchise for not being “transparent about whether steps would be taken to ensure LGBTIQ players and fans felt safe”.
The comments were made just one week after Folau was criticised for making an “insensitive comment” about self-harm during a television interview ahead of the Silver Ferns’ Quad Series victory over the South African Proteas.
Questioned about her shooting performance in the Ferns’ loss to the England Roses in Auckland, Folau responded saying she “wasn’t slitting her wrists about it”.
Since issuing a statement to the Herald, in which Folau apologised for the comment, the Silver Ferns veteran opened up about the recent public backlash and said she wasn’t bothered by the criticism.
“I’m fine, you can’t please the world, that’s just how it is really being in the public eye. Everyone has their own opinions and that’s cool,” Folau told Radio Sport.
“It [was] a figure of speech and I totally put my hand up for saying what I said, people know me and know where my heart lies and I would never say anything meaningful like that to really hurt someone.
“I have apologised and I’ve just got to keep moving on, nothing is really bothering me at the moment I’m just looking forward to what’s ahead . . . that’s old news.”
Folau was in hot demand with Australian franchises after she called time on her Northern Mystics career last month to permanently relocate across the ditch.
Receiving an exemption from Netball New Zealand to play in the Super Netball competition while remaining eligible for the Silver Ferns, it was thought that Folau would join the Giants or the Sunshine Coast Lightning to be closer to her Sydney home.
But revealing that she would relocate to Adelaide for the 2019 season, Folau said she looked forward to the change of scenery.
“I have family in Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland and Perth and Adelaide is the only place that I don’t, so it’ll be nice to get away from them . . . why not?
“Why not Adelaide? I’ve heard nothing but great things,” she said.
“It’s been quite a process of even getting to be available to play in the Australian league . . . the whole process of making that decision to move over and having to negotiate with clubs too,” said Folau.
“I’ve been playing for a long time and I’d really like to play in a city where I know I’ll be very well looked after and enjoy as well . . . Adelaide is the one for me and I’m very excited.”
Folau will join her new Thunderbirds teammates after next year’s Netball World Cup.