Ex AFLW player Akec Makur Chuot on why she spoke out about racist comments following her Australian Open appearance

"I'm used to being the only one that looks like me in many rooms." Akec Makur Chuot speaks to Missing Perspectives after the Australian Open.

From top players on the court, to a myriad of brands offering food, drinks, and lifestyle activations, the Australian Open has served up an ace combo of sport and entertainment to cater for the masses this January. 

Just like it attracts top players from all over the world, it’s always expected that crowds of spectators will be just as diverse – whether that’s in the stands, or in the exclusive rows that are often sponsored by brands and filled with celebrities and content creators.

Former AFLW player Akec Makur Chuot has now spoken out about some of the negative comments she has received on social media after attending the tennis event, telling Missing Perspectives that she’s called out such behaviour so “people can be aware of trolling and racism we continue to face online”.

“Honestly that message just came from the heart as I couldn’t just sit on the sideline anymore as a person of colour with a small platform,” she told us, adding she’s also “used to being the only one that looks like me in many rooms”.

In an Instagram post shared last week, the South Sudanese star spoke about a racist comment made towards her after she wrote about “African girls slaying at the tennis”. She also highlighted the need for more people of colour (POC) in the creator industry to not only be invited to such events, but to be professionally respected on the same level as their white counterparts.

“Trolls are triggered by the fact that people who look like me are claiming space in global events like the @australianopen,” Akec wrote. Next to her caption was a screenshot of the comments section that was featured underneath her friend and model, Terri-Leigh Jacobs’ video.

The video showed Terri-Leigh and Akec watching the tennis at the Aus Open, and Akec had written in the comments section: “Ha I love you and love taking up space alongside you my sister 🤎 African girls slaying at the tennis 🎾”. 

In response to this comment, another Instagram user wrote: “@akecmakurchuot no one wants you here”. The comment, which doesn’t seem to appear on Terri-Leigh’s post anymore, was shared in Akec’s screenshot.

“Shoutout to my beautiful sis @terrileighjacobs, who posted a video of us enjoying the tennis at the AO with a caption that says, ‘Change starts with us when we claim our space.’ Let’s be real—I’ve been in Melbourne for nearly seven years, and only last year did I get my first invitation to any major AO or Australian sporting event by an Australian brand,” Akec wrote alongside her post.

“Huge thanks to @kiaaustralia and @canadianclubaus for inviting me and showing love—I’m forever grateful for introducing me to the tennis world last year”.

Akec, who is now a speaker, creator and sports commentator since retiring from AFLW in 2023, spoke about the importance of levelling the playing field for culturally diverse people – particularly in terms of brand partnerships and being included at such events. 

“The truth is, we still have a long way to go. I have seen many of us POC talents left out of paid PR opportunities, sidelined by big PR agencies and brands,” she said.

“Events continue to feature just a handful of POC talents, leaving us feeling like tokens instead of trailblazers. This is an area where PR teams and brands must do better. We’re tired of being used as diversity checkboxes. If we’re going to stop talking about ‘taking up space,’ brands need to step up and include us in meaningful ways. And no Paying just one or two of us is no longer OKAY. Pay our damn Talented creators (sic).” 

The sports star was also quick to point out that she wasn’t sharing this post for sympathy, but to educate brands and her audience about “what we are dealing with here online with these trolls”. 

“I’ve seen so many talented POC boys and girls walk away from this industry because their hard work isn’t properly compensated. We see you, and we won’t stay silent any longer,” she wrote. 

Adding that she’s determined to keep working in the industry and speaking up about diversity and representation, she explained she’s “here to stay. Me and my POC family will continue to take up space, and that’s on Period”.

Akec was born in South Sudan and grew up in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya before moving to Australia in 2005. She was the first African woman drafted into the Inaugural AFL Women’s competition in 2017, going on to play 40 AFLW games across three different clubs before finishing her career at Hawthorn.

She told Missing Perspectives that she wanted to use her platform of over 49,000 Instagram followers to raise awareness about rampant racism that takes place on social media.

“I try to use everything I do as an educational tool for whoever that receives [it], to spark a conversation. That comment itself was pretty harmful and I am glad that they told me and not another person who could’ve potentially internalised that threat,” she told us.

“The reason I posted it is so people can be aware of trolling and racism we continue to face online,” she continued, adding that she hopes that “one day tech companies can start protecting us online too”.

In regards to her comments about more people of colour being included in influential rooms and significant events, she referred to her own personal experiences facing adversity as a South Sudanese woman.

“I have been at many industry events where myself, or maybe a few other people of colour, are there. To be honest, I am used to being the only one that looks like me in many rooms, and I have always used it as inspiration instead of dwelling on it – to network so we can get more people that look like me in the room.

“I speak about financial compensation too as I always find PR or brands say, ‘Oh we don’t have a budget for these events or launches,’ you get there and we start talking to each other, and they are paying other people and not the POC creators in attendance. This is an area we also need to address, as I have seen so many talented young people get tired and leave the industry altogether.”

She notes that most of her recent experiences have been more positive, but these personal wins won’t deter her from advocating for the community.

“We have such a talented pool of POC in every industry from arts, sports, media, beauty, fashion and the list goes on. My stand is for all these talented humans to get a fair go and be exposed to these rooms of opportunities.

“For as long as I am on this planet, I will continue to advocate and show up for myself and others so we can all benefit from our own hard work.”

Top photo source: Instagram/akecmakurchuot

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