[ad_1]
An innocent photo of NRL star Josh Addo-Carr celebrating the Melbourne Storm’s 2020 Grand Final win has sparked controversy among footy fans and triggered a backlash from some of Sydney’s most feared street gangs.
The winger can be seen throwing up the hand signal 67 in a nod to Doonside – the gritty Western Sydney suburb where he was born, which has the postcode 2767.
Another high-profile figure from the area is notorious drill rapper Hooligan Hefs, who pens songs glorifying guns, gangs and street violence.
After the Storm speedster made the hand gesture during a post-match interview, a social media account linked to Hooligan Hefs re-posted the photo with the caption ‘LETS FKN TROT !! congrats brother’.
Addo-Carr dismissed the controversy by reassuring fans the hand signal has ‘nothing to do with gangs’.
Addo-Carr can be seen throwing up the 67 hand signal, which is a nod to Doonside – the gritty Western Sydney suburb where he was born
Another high-profile figure from the 2767 postcode is notorious drill rapper Hooligan Hefs (pictured) who pens songs glorifying guns, gangs and street violence
‘I’m proud of where I come from but want to make it clear that no one should get involved in gangs,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
But another infamous Sydney rapper has lashed out at posers who claim to represent a neighbourhood but don’t ‘put in work’.
Spanian said that when you throw up gang signs to represent your ‘hood’ it implies ‘you’re a participant’.
The controversial artist is known for speaking candidly about his life of crime, drug addiction and growing up in inner city Sydney as part of street gangs.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting he is still involved in any illegal activity.
‘Just because you are raised somewhere, that doesn’t mean you’re one of the boys there,’ he said in a fiery Instagram post.
Spanian (pictured) said that when you throw up gang signs to represent your ‘hood’ it implies ‘you’re a participant
‘It doesn’t work like that. If you’re going to represent a hood, you have to put in work.
‘We were out here… holding the street values, stabbing c**ts for the name of the street, making money, putting the streets on the map.
‘Go to jail, represent the hood, have fights over the hood.’
But Addo-Carr is not the only NRL star to make gestures representing ‘the hood’.
His opposing Grand Final winger Brian To’o from the Penrith Panthers was raised on the mean streets of Mt Druitt and is friends with members from one of Australia’s most infamous live acts ONEFOUR.
Penrith winger Brian To’o, pictured with his partner is grew up on the mean streets of Mt Druitt
Members of the group based in western Sydney (pictured) admitted in a documentary they can ‘relate to stabbings and punch-ons’
The group have made headlines right across the world for rapping about street crime in Western Sydney and were even banned from performing by New South Wales Police last year after several members fell foul of the law.
Despite the controversy, the group have developed a significant following online and are known for ushering dance move the Mounty Bop.
To’o is known to perform the shuffle in celebration after he scores a try.
Police investigating ongoing postcode violence in Sydney’s west said the display of hand symbols by high-profile people is by no means new, but it does raise our concerns.
‘While it’s unlikely we’d see conflict on the field, this type of behaviour could easily cause issues among spectators,’ Criminal Groups Squad Commander Detective Acting Superintendent Jayne Doherty said.
NRL boss Andrew Abdo said the code will continue to work closely with NSW Police so that players understand the potential ramifications of ‘certain actions’.
‘Our players are role models, particularly to young people in the community, and we take our role to educate our players of that responsibility very seriously.’
Police investigating ongoing postcode violence in Sydney’s west said the display of hand symbols by high-profile people is by no means new, but it does raise our concerns. Pictured: ONEFOUR
[ad_2]
Source link