Penrith Panthers utility Tyrone May has been criticised for an Instagram post made after last night’s grand final win over the Rabbitohs.
Penrith Panthers utility Tyrone May has caught backlash over a post-grand final Instagram post that referenced his highly publicised court case.
After the Panthers’ 14-12 win over the Rabbitohs, the 25-year-old shared a celebratory post that appeared to take aim at his criminal conviction, which was handed down for what a magistrate termed “reprehensible” behaviour.
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May pleaded guilty to four charges of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent in 2018.
Having already missed the 2019 season in accordance with the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, May was given a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service in January last year.
He returned to play for the Panthers as part of the 2020 NRL season.
During Sunday night’s grand final celebrations, May uploaded a series of photos, which he captioned using lyrics from “Fair Trade” by Canadian rapper Drake.
“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it,” May wrote alongside a picture of himself and coach Ivan Cleary arriving at Parramatta Local Court for his trial.
May limited comments on the post, such that those who do not follow him are unable to react to his post in the comments section.
“They hate but then they all copy,” wrote Panthers centre Stephen Crichton in response to May’s post.
“What a story my brother,” added prop Spencer Leniu.
Multiple Panthers players, including Nathan Cleary, James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Brian To’o, Moses Leota and Apisai Koroisau, shared messages of support.
On Twitter, NRL fans were more critical.
One of May’s victims sought damages for “psychological injury” caused by the fallout from the illegally filmed sex tape.
May and the woman, who asked not to be named, reached a monetary settlement earlier this year.
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