- Russell Crowe dismisses claims he wants to sell Rabbitohs shares
- Crowe currently owns a 25 per cent stake in the football club worth $20 million.
- The Hollywood actor had previously made arrangements to leave the club.
Russell Crowe has vehemently denied reports on Monday that his $20 million stake in the South Sydney Rabbitohs was for sale.
Indeed, the Hollywood superstar, who has had an interest in the club since buying a share for $3 million with businessman Peter Holmes à Court in 2006, called the reports “silly.”
Crowe, 60, warned reporters that rumors circulating on the Internet that he might try to offload his 25 percent stake were not true.
He even went so far as to tell reporters to go “enjoy the summer sun” rather than speculate on the narrative.
Moving on to X, Crowe added: ‘Re: SSFC (South Sydney Football Club). What would January be in Australia without the desperate conspiracy theories of the legacy media?
‘Enjoy the summer sun while it’s there and ignore the trolls. WB (coach Wayne Bennett) is back on board. A fresh energy about the place. An arrowhead on our intentions.’
Russell Crowe has branded rumors he wants to sell his stake in the South Sydney Rabbitohs as “nonsense”.
Crowe (left) acquired the club in 2006 along with Peter Holmes à Court (right)
The Rabbitohs have declined to comment on the matter.
Since his investment in the club 19 years ago, Crowe has become a key part of Stadium Australia’s furnishings and has always worn his heart on his sleeve.
But it appears a bombshell report from almost 12 years ago could have been at the center of speculation over his future with the Rabbitohs.
In 2012, ABC News He said the Rabbitohs had confirmed that Crowe had indicated he wanted to sell his stake in the team.
Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas and then-chief executive Shane Richardson spoke to ease fans’ concerns about the club’s stability following Crowe’s announcement.
They added that Crowe’s decision was “personal” and that there was an understanding that the actor would find a buyer to replace him.
He later spoke out about the decision to sell his shares in the club, which then stood at 37.5 per cent, claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family.
“It’s quite simple, I have to spend more time with my family,” he told Fox League. “I have loved the responsibility of making South Sydney a competitive force again.”
The Hollywood actor (right), posing for a photo with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left), had attempted to sell his shares in 2012.
Although he stated that the decision was because he wanted to spend more time with his family, he ultimately reversed that decision.
But the Gladiator star would do a U-turn on his plans, instead changing his mind and opting to remain a partial shareholder.
He now owns a quarter of the football club along with former Crown Resorts chairman James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes, a technology entrepreneur. The final part is distributed among the members of the South.
Under his leadership, the Souths ended a 43-year wait for a premiership in 2014 and are now financially stable as well.
This comes after the club fell on hard times in the 90s and was eventually expelled from the NRL in 1999.
Crowe and Packer had also waived $7 million in debt in 2016, according to AAPgiving the club more financial security.
While the Bunnies are yet to repeat their 2014 exploits and end an 11-year wait for a premiership, the appointment of new boss Wayne Bennett will no doubt help the Rabbitohs turn around their fortunes after finishing in the 16th in the NRL last season. .