'Shut it down': Andrew Johns called out over Erin Molan 'feud'
Radio personality Jackie O has turned the spotlight on Andrew Johns to break his silence about the reported rift with Channel Nine colleague Erin Molan.
Molan was brought to tears in an emotional interview with WSFM on Thursday, speaking for the first time about reports of a falling out with her fellow NRL commentator.
Last weekend The Sunday Telegraph reported Johns walked out on his role on Friday night football earlier this year because of an “awkward” falling out with Molan.
The huge public interest in the story has seen Molan cop horrible treatment from rugby league fans on social media, many of whom blame her for Paul 'Fatty' Vautin's axing from The Footy Show.
Beau Ryan, who worked with Molan and Vautin as a Footy Show regular, defended the former in a passionate segment with Kyle and Jackie O on KIIS 1065 radio station on Friday.
“We all get trolled. Everyone in the media gets trolled (but) she cops it, man,” Ryan said on air.
“She’s done her apprenticeship in TV, it took her a while to break in — especially as a woman in the NRL as a presenter.
“It was tough and I’ve got nothing but respect and love for her. She is super-professional.”
Molan's unfortunate situation has led to an outpouring of support for the TV presenter.
On Friday, Jackie O shifted the focus onto Johns - imploring the rugby league great to set the record straight after seeing how upset it had made Molan.
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“Has he come out and said this is not true? Why wouldn’t you shut it down if it’s causing her grief,” Jackie said.
Johns walked away from his role on the NRL Footy Show in 2018, after Molan replaced Vautin as host.
The decision to hand Molan the reins didn’t go down well at the time, with the new host receiving backlash from fans.
However according to Ryan, any backlash directed at Molan for Fatty’s exit or the Footy Show’s demise is misguided.
“She didn’t replace Fatty, the show changed (and) they just kept the name, which they shouldn’t have done,” he said.
“I even said it to Erin the other day, when you fill in for someone you get compared to them straight away … it makes it super hard (and) it’s not fair. She’s got her own flavour in what she does and she’s brilliant.”
Molan breaks down in emotional interview
On Thursday Molan broke her silence on the ugly saga in an interview with Jonesy and Amanda, wearing sunglasses because she couldn’t wear her contact lenses due to a lack of sleep.
“I am so sorry, I haven’t put my contacts in this morning. I had a rough night. I didn’t sleep very well and these are prescriptions,” Molan said.
Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller both threw their support behind Molan - bringing the Channel Nine presenter to tears.
“I get emotional with this Erin, I don’t understand why people give you a hard time,” Keller said.
“It pisses me off. And I think it’s because you are so professional and you are so good at your job, that I think that men don’t like you being good at what they still see as their world.
“I admire the pants off you or the eyeballs off you and I just think you are the most professional female and it’s threatened everybody.”
Keller was also brought to tears after seeing Molan break down.
“Your daughter would be so proud of you. You’re breaking the glass ceiling for a generation,” Keller added.
With agencies
