When Sydney Swans star Kieren Jack put his girlfriend of three years ahead of his parents, it sparked a family feud that’s been played out in front of the entire country.
Now former Swans player and radio host Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald has weighed in on the saga, blasting the Jack’s parents for allowing a private matter to become public.
“I can’t fathom why Garry and Donna Jack would air their family feud over Twitter? You are asking to be put on the front page?” he wrote this evening.
Tensions have reportedly been simmering in the Jack family for more than a year due to Jack's relationship with model and Nine News producer Charlotte Goodlet, but they reached boiling point when he chose to give his tickets to his 200th game this Saturday to her and her parents.
Learning of the decision, Kieren's mother sent him the following tweet on Monday: "So sad. Dad 200 RL you 200 AFL & you dont want us there, your parents. No appreciation for all the yrs helping you get there," Donna wrote.
Jack's rugby league legend father, Garry Jack, later Tweeted a jibe at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after the scandal hit the press: "Well I bet your glad I took the front page of Telegraph today," he wrote.
This Tweet also drew the ire of Fitzy, who expressed his disbelief that the former Balmain Tigers player could possibly be joking about the situation.
Previously quiet on the whole ordeal, Jack this morning said he was keen to see the back of all the drama, particularly for Goodlet's sake.
"It's been tough on her. She doesn't deserve the treatment she has received. She is strong, she is an independent woman," he said during a press conference.
"She's not just a model. I love her very much and am very proud of her."
Top Comments
Fitzy is an awesome bloke. I was hoping for some more tit bits of wisdom. The mum has let herself down. Shaming your son will equal disaster. Of course models hook up with footballers. It is part of the game. Fortune + fame. Surely his mum didn't think she should choose his partner. As for the invite to the 2ooth, yep, so what. The situation is even worse now.
Something I don't understand is why his parents can't buy tickets themselves like everyone else would? Surely for something like that the costs of a few tickets isn't a huge burden? On the flip side though if these tickets are in limited supply, or only a few are given per player, I do wonder why the girlfriends parents were given tickets ahead of his own parents?. I get he may have wanted his girlfriend there, But I can understand his parents feeling hurt that the girlfriends parents were chosen to be the recipients over them. Especially if they are the tickets the parents requested that were redirected. I think any parent would be hurt and disappointed if they couldn't be there for the most important moments in their children's lives, even their fully grown children. Talking directly to their son would have been the better course of action though, not a public tweet.
Maybe Charlotte's parents have supported both Jack & Charlotte more than Jack's parents have for the last 12 months and Jack would prefer them there? He shouldn't have to give the tickets to his parents just because they're his parents. Also I imagine the tickets would be to the same area/seats and if Jack's parents don't approve of Charlotte it would be very awkward for her (and them) to have to sit together for the whole game...
They weren't given tickets because they've been acting like tools for a while now. I wouldn't give them tickets either.
http://www.mamamia.com.au/k... sounds like the mum is apiece of work
I think that part of having a child with a long term partner is sharing them with the other set of parents. Obviously Jack is close to his in laws and perhaps they have provided him with lots of support and these tickets are a gesture to say thank you. Or perhaps they aren't in a position to afford to buy fancy tickets so this is a big treat for them. It's not going to be the last opportunity for his parents to see him play a big game. They couldn't push their son away more if they tried.