This was published 4 years ago
Scott Cummings, Dane Swan podcast shut down over sexual assault jokes
By Rachel Eddie
Former AFL player Scott Cummings has been sacked by radio station 3AW over jokes he made about sexual assault on his Humpday podcast with former Collingwood star Dane Swan.
Cummings - who laughed while describing sex acts, including "sneaking up behind a girl who is on all fours throwing up" and sexually assaulting her - has apologised for the "disrespectful and wrong" comments and said he would step down from the podcast immediately to reflect and seek guidance from Domestic Violence Victoria.
Despite his apology, the radio station said it would terminate its relationship with him and he would not appear on 3AW Football again.
But his co-host Swan remains defiant, shrugging off all criticism and going so far as to say he will be back "funnier and worse than ever".
Dane Swan and Scott Cummings' podcast has been shut down following their jokes about sexual assault.Credit: Instagram
Cummings had been reading out definitions from the Urban Dictionary website, which describes modern or online slang, and referenced acts based on the names of Swan and their podcast producer Ralph Horowitz.
The "dirty Ralph", Cummings said, involved trying to "sneak up behind a girl who is on all fours throwing up" and sexually assaulting her. He went on to describe the act of masturbating into a woman's face as she slept, and was met with laughter from Swan and the producer.
Cummings apologised on Tuesday via Twitter, saying: "I would like to publicly acknowledge that the recent comments made on my podcast were disrespectful and wrong.
"It was insensitive and irresponsible to make light of sexual abuse and I am deeply sorry for any offence or triggered responses caused by my actions. I recognise the responsibility associated with being a person in media and the potential impact of my actions."
Domestic Violence Victoria confirmed Cummings had contacted the organisation.
Radio station 3AW acknowledged Cumming's apology, but said it was "disgusted" by the comments.
"Sexual assault is never a laughing matter. Jokes about sexual assault are never OK," the station said in a statement.
"The fact that this podcast was published, remains online, and was defended by Mr Cummings on social media, shows incredibly poor judgment.
"As such, we have decided to terminate our relationship with Mr Cummings. He will not appear on 3AW Football again this year."
Scott Cummings apologised for the comments on Tuesday.Credit: Paul Rovere
However, Swan, also a Brownlow medallist, defended the comments and slammed the critics, saying people needed to "get a grip".
"Wow, just wow. The carry on about a stupid podcast and the things people are trying to attach to it is one of the most absurd things I’ve heard. If ya didn’t like it ya didn’t have to f---ing listen to it. It’s that simple. Lot of haters and sad sacks in this country it seems," he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
"If we had of ever said anything wrong or offensive we would of apologised but the fact is we have never have and I’ll debate anyone anywhere arguing that point. When written down words can look horrible I get that but f--- me. People need to get a grip."
In one Twitter post, he tagged producer Mr Horowitz and suggested starting a new podcast, saying he would be back in a month.
Dane Swan.Credit: Luis Ascui
"Got some things I wanna get off my chest and this time I may seriously offend some people. Bad luck to all those who thought they won."
Mr Horowitz said they were laughing at "how moronic the entries in Urban Dictionary are".
Later, he said the decision to cut Cummings as a commentator from 3AW was an example of "gutless, cowardly hypocrisy in media".
The Scotty and Swanny Twitter page had earlier confirmed the end of the Humpday podcast, saying "it was fun while it lasted".
It comes after Humpday was accused of trolling Shameless Podcast duo Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald, in comments that Cummings, Swan and Horowitz said were taken out of context.
Radio station 3AW is owned by Macquarie Media, part of Nine, the publisher of this website.