Acclaimed filmmaker Taika Waititi has joined the growing number of people condemning rugby player Israel Folau's recent homophobic comments.
The Wallabies star stated on social media a fortnight ago that gay people were going to Hell unless they repented for their "sins", causing considerable controversy.
- Rugby Australia won't punish Folau over 'gay' comments
- Brian Tamaki supports Folau, says 'cry baby gays' go to Hell
- All Black TJ Perenara issues anti-suicide plea after Folau's homophobia
Waititi has taken to Twitter to support All Blacks star TJ Perenara, who hit out at Folau's "harmful" message and suggested a link between such statements and youth suicide in the Māori and Pasifika communities.
The Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker also gives a message to Folau - advising he shut up.
"Shot TJ. And jaaaardup Israel," Waititi says in the tweet, which links to Perenara's message.
Waititi triggered his own social media firestorm in New Zealand recently when comments he made about racism to British magazine Loaded were reported on by local media.
- Kanoa Lloyd: Taika Waititi isn't 'sabotaging' NZ, he's trying to help fix it
- 'Sit down' - KJ Apa schools fellow Christian Israel Folau on homophobia
Some questioned his pointing out the "flat-out refusal" by some Kiwis to pronounce Māori words correctly as "racism", which he responded to with an account of shocking abuse a couple was allegedly subjected to after suggesting Mokau residents pronounce the town's name correctly.
Newshub.
