Picture Credit: Twitter
Shane Warne’s daughter and family have slammed Australian broadcaster Channel Nine for their plans of making a two-part film, called 'Warnie only months after his death'. Warne’s eldest daughter Brooke has called it “beyond disrespectful”. The legendary leg spinner’s long-time manager James Erskine has said Channel 9 should be “ashamed of themselves”.
As per reports, the Nine Network, where Warne worked as a commentator for over 20 years, had started the projects just weeks after his death. The TV channel believed that this telefilm would be a fitting tribute. But the family didn’t approve of this idea.
“Do any of you have any respect for Dad? Or his family? Who did so much for Channel Nine and now you want to dramatise his life and our families (sic) life 6 months after he passed away?” Brooke Warne wrote on her Instagram.
Similarly, Warne’s manager Erskine has previously called out some similar proposals. “He’s only been dead for a couple of months and for them to turn this around and think about doing some sensational thing, well they should be ashamed of themselves,” Erskine told Herald Sun .
Despite these comments, Channel Nine will be moving forward with the project. A spokesperson was quoted by the Guardian saying that the film would be a celebration of the life of “a man who lived life large and loved passionately. We have enormous respect for Shane and all his achievements, and our hope is all Australians including Warnie’s family will feel the programme honours his legacy and life.” The cast for the telefilm has not been announced yet, but the network expressed that the biopic will screen in Australia over two nights in 2023.
Shane Warne passed away in Koh Samui, a resort island in Thailand on 4 March. He is still considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Warne took 708 Test wickets, the second most of all time, in 145 matches across a 15-year international career.