SAS Australia directing staff member Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham has defended Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins following a controversial boxing match with Sabrina Frederick on the show this week.
On Monday, viewers were left shocked after witnessing the brutal fight between AFLW star Sabrina, 23, and the former Bachelor star, 33, with many insisting the Honey Badger should not have hit a woman.
But Billy has hit back at those slamming the former Wallabies player, telling News.com.au on Friday: ‘Everyone around the world is stamping their feet about equality and equal rights – there’s your equal rights right there.’
‘He did what he was supposed to do’: SAS Australia directing staff member Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham has defended Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins following a controversial boxing match with Sabrina Frederick on the show this week
‘They were told a task to do and that’s what they did… I take my hat off to Nick. He did what he was supposed to do,’ he added.
The former SAS solider also applauded footy star Sabrina for putting up a good fight against the former international rugby union player.
‘(Sabrina) was phenomenal. Her strength, her mentality and how she carried her way through all the tasks,’ he said.
Equality: ‘They were told a task to do and that’s what they did… I take my hat off to Nick. He did what he was supposed to do,’ he added
SAS Australia chief instructor Ant Middleton also echoed the same sentiment, saying that the ‘selection process remains exactly the same, regardless of gender.’
He added that Sabrina showed: ‘true strength of character and how much she wanted to test herself.’
‘They both held a good and correct account of themselves,’ he said of both Nick and Sabrina
‘SAS Australia is the closest thing there is to the real selection process. Standards will not be dropped. It really is that simple,’ he added.
‘Standards will not be dropped’: SAS Australia chief instructor Ant Middleton also echoed the same sentiment, saying that the ‘selection process remains exactly the same, regardless of gender’
On Monday, Sabrina addressed her matchup with Nick, calling it ‘an experience I will never forget.’
She explained in an Instagram post: ‘My whole life I have been fighting for equality. For people to treat all as equal, regardless of gender or race and that task was an opportunity for exactly that.
‘I volunteered and picked @nickbadger for two reasons. 1) I wanted to select the person I thought was the biggest challenge and 2) I knew our respect was mutual and he would give me a fair fight regardless of my gender.
‘I am truly grateful for him and that experience,’ she wrote, ‘Yes, I was scared, but that’s the whole point of SAS not letting the fear consume you, instead harnessing it to empower you.’
Equal treatment: On Monday, Sabrina addressed her matchup with Nick, calling it ‘an experience I will never forget’. She explained in an Instagram post: ‘My whole life I have been fighting for equality. For people to treat all as equal, regardless of gender or race and that task was an opportunity for exactly that.’
However, the fight did not sit well with singer Guy Sebastian who said the bout made him ‘feel sick’.
Speaking to Nova 93.7’s Nathan, Nat & Shaun on Wednesday, he explained: ‘My wife and I run a foundation where we deal with domestic violence. I thought that was pretty p**s poor, if I’m being honest.’
He said the brutal fight sent the wrong message to young men watching.
Not right: However, the fight did not sit well with singer Guy Sebastian who said the bout made him ‘feel sick’
‘I think it makes it very difficult to tell your kids, to tell your boy, “You never hit a girl!” It doesn’t matter what the circumstance is, you just never, ever hit a girl. Violence against women is always wrong,’ he said.
The Voice coach clarified that he was not ‘having a crack’ Nick, rather ‘whoever is in charge of the show.’
Guy and his wife Jules founded the Sebastian Foundation in 2013. Among the many causes the charity works with, they also help women who have experienced domestic violence.