star Tyrone May has been sacked by Penrith Panthers over a provocative Instagram picture he posted after last month’s Grand Final against South Sydney.
A club board meeting on Wednesday morning took the decision to axe May, 25, immediately over the post, which has since been deleted after a furious backlash.
The post appeared to claim the porn sneak had been vindicated despite pleading guilty to filming sex tapes without permission and narrowly dodging jail.
The pic showed May and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary leaving Parramatta Local Court after he admitted four charges of 'intentionally recording an intimate image without consent’.
He had met two women online and filmed them without permission before the videos were leaked online.
A club board meeting on Wednesday morning took the decision to axe Tyrone May (pictured) immediately over an Instagram post, which has since been deleted after a furious backlash
NRL star Tyrone May has been sacked by Penrith Panthers over an Instagram picture (seen here) he posted after last month’s Grand Final against Sydney Souths
One was covertly filmed in a motel in Coffs Harbour after he hooked up with a woman on Tinder
The second was filmed when May had consensual sex with a woman and three other men, including his nephew George Ragheb and ex-Panthers reserves player Liam Coleman.
The woman asked not to be filmed when she realised the men had mobile phones, and reported it to police when the video emerged months later.
He escaped prison despite Magistrate Robyn Denes describing May as 'reprehensible’ and telling him he was 'right on the cusp of a custodial sentence’.
He was given a three year good behaviour bond and ordered to do 300 hours of community service.
Tyrone May (pictured) pleaded guilty to four charges of 'intentionally recording an intimate image without consent’ in January 2020
Despite the scandal, May remained part of the Panthers squad and played in the last two Grand Finals, including October’s 14-12 victory over the Rabbitohs.
His crowing post-Grand Final Instagram snap was captioned with lyrics from rapper Drake: movies 'And the dirt that they threw on my name turned to soil and I grew up out it.
’Time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it.Love my brothers’.
The woman at the centre of the orgy video – which was posted to Pornhub and an NRL Facebook group – said his post made her relive the trauma of the incident.
’I had quite a lot of panic attacks, so with this coming back, it triggered that as well,’ she said after the Grand Final Instagram post.
’I walk around in Penrith and everyone is looking at me because they know.I’m walking around paranoid 24-7.
’He hasn’t learnt anything. If I want to go and [have sex in private], that’s me. That shouldn’t be shown to the world. But unfortunately, it did. Now I struggle.’
Last month the NRL fined May $7,500 and ordered him to undertake further education programs in the wake of the Instagram post.
Last month the NRL fined Tyrone May (pictured) $7,500 and ordered him to undertake further education programs in the wake of the Instagram post
May attended Wednesday’s board meeting in a bid to save his career but the club opted to terminate his one year deal over the latest incident.
’As a club we understand our responsibilities to the game, our corporate partners, our members and fans, and the wider rugby league community,’ Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher said.
’The board observed due process in this matter and considered all relevant factors before reaching its final decision.
’Panthers will coordinate with the NRL to ensure Tyrone receives access to any support services he needs moving forward.’