Israel Folau's controversial appeal for financial assistance for his legal fight against Rugby Australia has been shut down by GoFundMe Australia, with more than $650,000 in funds donated to the sacked rugby star expected to be refunded.
Rugby Australia terminated Folau's multimillion-dollar contract last month after he posted a photo to Instagram in April that said homosexuals were destined for hell unless they repented of their sins.
Israel Folau's video that accompanied his appeal for funds last week.Credit:YouTube
Folau, 30, launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission and said that, if a deal is not struck with RA, he would take the matter to the High Court. He set up the GoFundMe page in the hope of receiving $3 million in donations.
But GoFundMe Australia released a statement to the Herald on Monday saying the Folau appeal breached the organisation's terms and conditions.
Advertisement
"Today we will be closing Israel Folaus campaign and issuing full refunds to all donors. After a routine period of evaluation, we have concluded that this campaign violates our terms of service," GoFundMe Australia regional manager Nicola Britton said.
"As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity.
"While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.
"In the days since Mr Folau's campaign launched, more than one million dollars have been donated to hundreds of other campaigns, large and small, across Australia. Those acts of kindness are the heart of GoFundMe.
"Our platform exists to help people help others. Australians have shown themselves to be among the most kind and generous people in the world. We look forward to helping more Australians fundraise for causes they care about in the coming months and years."
GoFundMe's fine print says the crowdfunding site cannot be used for "campaigns we deem, in our sole discretion, to be in support of, or for the legal defense of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or sex."
While Folau's GoFundMe page soared past the $580,000 mark on Saturday, there were growing calls for the "hypocritical" website, which proudly displays a gay pride flag on its social media accounts, to shut down the fundraising exercise.
In an Instagram post on Saturday evening, Folau, a multimillionaire, recognised those who had parted with their hard-earned cash for what he has described as "the fight of my life".
"Thank you to all those who have given to my Legal Action Fund so far," Folau wrote to his 363,000 Instagram followers. "I am humbled and overwhelmed by the support I have received, for which I am very grateful.
Israel Folau's controversial appeal for financial assistance for his legal fight against Rugby Australia has been shut down by GoFundMe Australia, with more than $650,000 in funds donated to the sacked rugby star expected to be refunded.
Rugby Australia terminated Folau's multimillion-dollar contract last month after he posted a photo to Instagram in April that said homosexuals were destined for hell unless they repented of their sins.
Israel Folau's video that accompanied his appeal for funds last week.Credit:YouTube
Folau, 30, launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission and said that, if a deal is not struck with RA, he would take the matter to the High Court. He set up the GoFundMe page in the hope of receiving $3 million in donations.
But GoFundMe Australia released a statement to the Herald on Monday saying the Folau appeal breached the organisation's terms and conditions.
Advertisement
"Today we will be closing Israel Folaus campaign and issuing full refunds to all donors. After a routine period of evaluation, we have concluded that this campaign violates our terms of service," GoFundMe Australia regional manager Nicola Britton said.
"As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity.
"While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.
"In the days since Mr Folau's campaign launched, more than one million dollars have been donated to hundreds of other campaigns, large and small, across Australia. Those acts of kindness are the heart of GoFundMe.
"Our platform exists to help people help others. Australians have shown themselves to be among the most kind and generous people in the world. We look forward to helping more Australians fundraise for causes they care about in the coming months and years."
GoFundMe's fine print says the crowdfunding site cannot be used for "campaigns we deem, in our sole discretion, to be in support of, or for the legal defense of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or sex."
While Folau's GoFundMe page soared past the $580,000 mark on Saturday, there were growing calls for the "hypocritical" website, which proudly displays a gay pride flag on its social media accounts, to shut down the fundraising exercise.
In an Instagram post on Saturday evening, Folau, a multimillionaire, recognised those who had parted with their hard-earned cash for what he has described as "the fight of my life".
"Thank you to all those who have given to my Legal Action Fund so far," Folau wrote to his 363,000 Instagram followers. "I am humbled and overwhelmed by the support I have received, for which I am very grateful.
