AFL star sues Fox Sports for $1.2million over live TV broadcast of intimate footage
Former AFL player Ricky Henderson is suing Fox Sports and the league for more than $1.2million after his genitals were accidentally broadcast live to viewers.
The former Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn player claims the incident caused lasting psychological injuries, affected his relationships and left him unable to work for periods.
The vision went to air during the halftime break of Adelaide’s clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on April 6, 2013.
Court documents seen by news.com.au state that Mr Henderson stepped away from his teammates inside the ground’s kicking room to adjust his shorts and athletic support garment.
The intimate moment was captured by a fixed Fox Sports camera and broadcast live across Australia.
Mr Henderson, now 37, claims he did not know the camera was operating when he adjusted his clothing.
Former AFL player Ricky Henderson is seeking more than $1.2million in damages from Fox Sports and the league
Mr Henderson claims an intimate part of his body was accidentally broadcast live during Adelaide’s 2013 match
His legal team alleges the AFL and Fox Sports were negligent by failing to prevent the unintended footage from reaching viewers. Both organisations are defending the legal action.
The documents state the broadcast violated Henderson’s dignity and caused him ‘extreme embarrassment and hurt’.
Mr Henderson claims the incident resulted in low mood, anxiety, disturbed sleep and socially avoidant behaviour.
According to his claim, he was diagnosed with acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in October 2024, with both conditions attributed to the broadcast.
His lawyers allege those psychological problems are unlikely to completely resolve and that Mr Henderson remains at risk of having the memories and symptoms retriggered.
The former footballer also claims he suffered financial losses due to periods of total or partial incapacity that prevented him from working.
Documents filed by Mr Henderson’s solicitor, Luke Rowley, allege the incident caused ‘significant impairments to his socialisation, relationships, occupational and self-efficiency’.
His legal team argues the AFL should have recognised the risk that players could be injured if intimate footage was shown live.
Court documents state Mr Henderson suffered lasting anxiety, disturbed sleep and socially avoidant behaviour following the nationally televised incident
‘AFL ought to have known that there was a risk of injury to the applicant if images of his genitalia were to be broadcast,’ the documents said.
The claim also alleges the league failed to ensure Fox Sports used an adequate broadcasting delay to stop embarrassing or unintended footage and audio from reaching viewers.
Fox Sports and the AFL do not dispute that Mr Henderson’s genitals were shown on television. The broadcaster apologised after the original incident.
Both organisations are defending the legal action. The Daily Mail has contacted them for comment.
Fox Sports argues in its defence that Mr Henderson was filmed in the kicking room, which it describes as a public warm-up area used by players, coaches, trainers, medical staff and media representatives.
The broadcaster says the kicking room was separate from the private change rooms, where cameras did not operate.
It also claims players knew fixed cameras were used in the area.
‘Fox Sports says that Mr Henderson adjusted his shorts and undergarment near the middle of the kicking room, in the full and open view of other Adelaide Football Club players and staff,’ the defence’s case said.
Both the AFL and Fox Sports are defending against the legal claims brought by Mr Henderson
The AFL similarly argues Henderson knew, or should have known, about the cameras and the possibility of footage being shown live.
‘The kicking room was not a changing room, and this was known by the applicant or in the alternative ought to have been known by a reasonable person in the position of the applicant,’ the league’s defence states.
The AFL has also denied Mr Henderson suffered financial losses because of the broadcast.
The case returned to South Australia’s District Court on Monday, when Associate Judge Mark Blumberg said several outstanding matters needed to be addressed.
‘There are matters that need to be resolved before the parties undertake any solution-focused activities,’ he said.
Associate Judge Blumberg warned a civil trial could remain years away if the parties could not reach a resolution.
The case was adjourned until September.