Rugby League commentator Brad “Freddy” Fittler is receiving some criticism after yet another awkward interaction with Olympian Jess Fox following the NRL grand final.
If you missed it, back in August, former NRL star Fittler found himself in a bit of a stir after an uncomfortable moment with Olympic Kayak champions Noemie and Jess Fox at a Penrith Panthers game. The sisters, being massive Panthers supporters, were invited as special guests to a home match after their significant victories at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Just before the game began, Fittler was scheduled to interview the sisters. However, before the conversation commenced, the kiss cam roamed around the stadium, focusing on random spectators and prompting them to share a kiss.
“Just waiting for the kiss cam to come… on me,” Fittler remarked while standing between Jess and Noemie.
The Olympians chuckled at the comment, and Fittler quickly shifted the discussion, asking them if they enjoyed the football atmosphere.
You can watch the awkward moment below.
Despite many online calling the interaction a “trainwreck,” Channel Nine later clarified with a statement explaining that Fittler’s remark was unrelated to the sisters.
“An activation was occurring in the stadium last night involving a kiss cam that was not part of the TV broadcast, and Brad’s comments pertained to that activity happening on the ground,” the statement read.
“Brad’s remarks were not directed towards the Fox sisters, no harm was intended, and no offence was taken.”
While this was already the kind of encounter that would keep me up at night, things only worsened for Fittler last night after the Penrith Panthers clinched their fourth consecutive premiership. He went into the locker rooms to conduct the annual victory interviews with the players for the network.
The attention quickly turned to Fittler — who had played for Penrith before famously moving to the Roosters — when his own commentary team noticed him holding a beer and chatting with some players instead of performing his actual duties.
“Look at him … he hasn’t even got a microphone in his hand, he’s got a beer,” Paul Gallen jested.
“Is he going to be able to put two words together?” Cameron Smith joined in before Darren Lockyer added: “He swapped a microphone for a Tooheys … he’d be sharing stories about ‘back in my day’.”
Trying to escape the good-natured teasing from his colleagues, Fittler attempted to hand off the beer to the next person he was talking to — Penrith mega-fan Jess Fox, who was celebrating the victory with the team.
“Jess, can you take that? You can have that,” he said, to which she graciously declined with a laugh.
“I’m still working,” he mentioned, placing the beer on the floor before asking Fox if she enjoyed her evening.
Overall, it was a rather light-hearted interaction. But — in true public holiday fashion — let this be a reminder not to indulge in drinks until you’ve officially finished work for the day.
