'It's distasteful': Russell Crowe dragged into cheerleader controversy

Russell Crowe has been dragged into the debate about the Brisbane Broncos’ decision to do away with cheerleaders.

The NRL side has axed its cheerleader program for the 2019 season and replaced it with a dance squad.

The Broncos’ decision came after the Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders made a similar move.

Now, former Canterbury Bulldogs cheerleader and reporter for ‘Big League’ magazine Darcie McDonald has taken a swipe at Crowe after he first axed the South Sydney Rabbitohs cheerleaders back in 2007.

Crowe brought in a marching band instead, saying he believed fans found it “uncomfortable” when cheerleaders performed at games.

“It makes women uncomfortable and it makes blokes who take their son to the football also uncomfortable,” he said at the time.

McDonald has now hit out at those sentiments and taken aim at the demonisation of cheerleaders in sport.

McDonald, now a journalist with Big League Magazine, rubbished Crowe’s claims by declaring she never once felt uncomfortable in the game as both a spectator and as a cheerleader.

“I find that absolutely hilarious,” she said on Macquarie Sports Radio.

“I grew up going to the footy. I probably went for the first time as a newborn.

“I remember one game I went to when I was about eight years old and I didn’t really understand footy at that age. I went purely for the cheerleaders.

“So I can guarantee you it does not make children uncomfortable. In fact in my Year 6 yearbook when I was asked what I want to be when I grow up, I wrote ‘cheerleader’.

“I will never be ashamed of being a cheerleader. It’s catapulted me into so many other opportunities.

“I am just baffled about how people are offended by cheerleaders. What could be offensive about talented dancers?

“I am totally baffled. I can’t understand what is so negative about the word ‘cheerleader’.

“A cheerleader from my experience is so much more than just a dancer in a dance squad. When you’re a cheerleader, you’re a brand ambassador. You do charity visits, hospital visits, you help out at junior clinics, you greet fans, you represent a club.

“When you’re part of a dance squad, you’re purely being branded as just a dancer.”

McDonald’s comments came after NRL commentator and Macquarie Sports Radio presenter Cam Reddin said the whole drama started with Crowe.

“It was the Rabbitohs that all really kicked this off with Russell Crowe,” he said.

“The word he used to describe the cheerleaders was ‘uncomfortable’.

“He said it made male, female and children in the stands feel uncomfortable. Well, I’m not so sure about that. I’m not sure how many complaints they got about that, not sure what consultation they had there.

“I think it’s just off, a little distasteful.”