Contrite Beale apologises for videos
Kurtley Beale has acknowledged a leaked video of him in the company of a man snorting a line of cocaine and another of a man holding a plate of white powder are “a bad image” for the game, but hopes his apology will put an end to the controversy.
Although the Wallabies and Waratahs star did nothing illegal and was cleared by an integrity unit of any wrongdoing, Beale said he still felt an obligation to say sorry because he didn’t want the videos to detract from the sport.
In his first public comments since the videos, which were filmed in 2015 and 2016, were posted on social media last month, a contrite Beale said yesterday: “I understand that it may have caused a bit of a bad image to the game.
“I understand that, so it’s always important to do that type of stuff (apologise) and understand the responsibilities in the game as a player.”
Beale met with Rugby Australia integrity unit officials after the first video, taken by NRL star Corey Norman, showed him laughing while a 77-year-old man, who calls himself The Chich, snorts cocaine.
A day later a second video emerged showing Beale playing a vacuum cleaner as a didgeridoo before the camera panned to a man holding a plate of a white powdery substance.
Beale immediately contacted RA boss Raelene Castle to apologise for the videos and said everyone had agreed to put the matter behind them after it was decided he should not be punished.
“I’ve spoken to them and I apologised at the time and now my full focus is on the Waratahs and adding my bit to hopefully a successful campaign,” he said.