- Rebecca Maddern made an unfortunate slip in the Brownlows
- TV host told Jamie Elliott to ‘come back alive’ from Las Vegas
- Collingwood star John McCarthy died in Las Vegas in 2012
Football fans have been made aware of an unfortunate gaffe by Brownlow Medal presenter Rebecca Maddern, which has brought back memories of a tragedy that rocked the AFL.
The TV presenter was present alongside Hamish McLachlan at the glamorous ceremony in Melbourne on Monday night, where Carlton’s Patrick Cripps took home the illustrious award with 45 votes.
As the evening progressed, Maddern conducted interviews with a number of football stars in the lounge, including Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott, who was denied the Mark of the Year award by teammate Bobby Hill.
Hill will take home $50,000 and two million Virgin Velocity points and joked that he would use the prize money and points on a trip to Las Vegas with Elliott the following morning.
Maddern mentioned Hill’s comments in his interview with Elliott and concluded the conversation by saying: “Jamie, thank you. It was a lovely chat. Have a great time in Vegas. I wish you all the best and I hope you come home alive.”
Elliott wasn’t laughing at the light-hearted joke and fans quickly took to social media to reveal why.
Former Magpies and Power star John McCarthy died at the age of just 22 during an end-of-season trip to Sin City in 2012, after falling from a roof of the Flamingo Hotel.
The tragedy rocked the AFL and is still fondly remembered by both clubs.
Rebecca Maddern made an unfortunate joke that left a bitter taste in Brownlow
The TV presenter hosted the glamorous event in Melbourne on Monday night.
Fans demanded an apology from Channel 7 for the innocent mistake.
“Rebecca Maddern needs to apologise to John McCarthy’s family and Jamie Elliott for her insensitive comments about returning from Vegas alive,” one user posted. “This is the most disgusting and cruel thing I have ever heard a ‘presenter’ say.”
Another said: ‘Rebecca Maddern telling Jamie Elliott to ‘come home alive’ from Las Vegas is a very strange thing to say on television.’
A third fan wrote: “Did Rebecca Maddern just make a joke about an AFL player ‘coming back alive’ from Vegas on a post-season trip? Such poor taste. I expect a full apology before coverage ends.”
“I can’t believe Rebecca Maddern said ‘come back alive’ to a Collingwood player who was going to Las Vegas…” added a fourth.
However, some fans were more understanding of the mistake.
She told Jamie Elliott to “come back alive” from Las Vegas, reminding fans of John McCarthy’s death in Sin City in the 2012 offseason.
“Bec Maddern. Don’t pay attention to her. But the Vegas joke about coming home alive… It’s not too soon, but it’s so unnecessary. I know, J-Mac,” one said.
“It’s obvious she’s not aware of JMac or the circumstances surrounding his death,” reasoned a second fan. “Still, it wasn’t funny to say. I think she’s going to feel really bad.”
“The joke about Rebecca Maddern coming back alive from Las Vegas is a run-of-the-mill joke in my opinion,” added a third fan. “People want to see things that were clearly not planned and are trying to stir up controversy.”
