Carlton Football Club president Luke Sayers has found himself at the center of controversy after a lewd photo was posted from his social media account. The explicit image, depicting male genitalia, was shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account and tagged a senior female executive from Bupa, one of Carlton’s corporate partners. The post was swiftly deleted, but the incident has sparked widespread scrutiny.
Sayers, who was vacationing in Italy with his family at the time, deactivated his social media account shortly after the post and stated that his account had been hacked. He expressed outrage over the unauthorized post and committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine who was responsible. The female executive tagged in the post is reportedly distressed by the incident.
Cybersecurity experts have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the alleged hack, noting that hackers typically lock account holders out by changing passwords, which did not appear to be the case here. These observations have fueled speculation about the incident and its origins.
Sayers has been Carlton’s president since August 2021 and is a prominent figure in both the sporting and business communities. Before his role at Carlton, he served as the CEO of PwC Australia. His tenure at PwC later came under scrutiny due to a scandal involving the misuse of confidential government information, adding further intrigue to the current controversy.
Critics and commentators have called on Sayers to return to Australia to address the situation directly. Suggestions include holding a press conference, involving relevant authorities, and demonstrating transparency to resolve the matter. Despite the escalating attention, neither Carlton Football Club nor the AFL has released an official statement regarding the incident.
Sayers has pledged to leave no stone unturned in identifying those responsible for the alleged hack. However, the lack of immediate clarity and official responses has left many questions unanswered as the investigation continues.
The scandal adds to the challenges facing Sayers and the Carlton Football Club, with calls for greater accountability and transparency from the leadership of one of the AFL’s most prominent clubs.