Lauren Brant defends partner Barry Hall over vulgar on-air comments

Lauren Brant has shared a statement in response to the vulgar on-air comments that saw her partner Barry Hall sacked from his radio role last week.
 
During Triple M’s live footy segment on Friday, Hall, 41, made a “joke” about a birth-related procedure performed on the pregnant wife of ex-St Kilda player Leigh Montagna.
 
The former AFL star was immediately dropped from the show over the remark, which has since drawn widespread condemnation from members of the public and the media.

Brant, 29, has now responded to the controversy surrounding her partner in a lengthy Instagram post, saying he doesn’t deserve to be “vilified” over a “silly conversation”.

 
“Although it was completely wrong, it was not intended to be a malicious statement and there was absolutely no thought or substance behind it,” the former Hi-5 performer writes. 

“He fully admits that it was unacceptable, completely regrets it and has done his best to apologise for the offence he has caused.”

Hall and Brant met in 2015 when they starred together on I’m a Celebrity (Get Me Out of Here), and have since welcomed a child together, son Miller.

Brant says although she usually declines from commenting on media stories, she feels compelled to speak because she sees the former Swans player as being unfairly “labelled as the problem”.

“I have been in situations in this very country where I was the victim to sexual inequality and derogatoriness and was too scared to stand up for myself in fear of being viewed as the villain. 
 
“Guess what? I was viewed as that anyway so really, I never stood a chance and it sent me into a depressed state for a long time.”

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“Because of it, when I met Barry, I had very suppressed demons inside of me and he was the only man I have ever come across who made me feel safe to talk, through his genuine respect for me.”
 
The mum says she and Hall have spoken at length about how his actions last week have “warranted a national response”, adding they both acknowledge “there is a problem”.
 
“[S]olely vilifying Barry for this incident is not going to fix it. You have the wrong man for that,” Brant continues.