Snowboard Champion's Sister Criticises Rogue Social Media Account
The sister of Australian snowboarding champion Scotty James has launched a scathing attack on what she describes as a 'rogue' Instagram account associated with the former television programme The Project. Rebecca James, who is engaged to Sunrise weather presenter Sam Mac, took to the comments section to condemn a post she labelled as 'terrible' regarding her brother's performance at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics.
Controversial Social Media Post Sparks Outrage
Despite The Project being cancelled by Channel 10 last year after sixteen years on air, the Instagram account 'theprojecttv' remains active under the management of Rove Enterprises, the show's former production company. The account shared a photograph of Scotty James, aged thirty-one, following his silver medal achievement in the men's halfpipe final on Friday, accompanied by a direct quotation from the athlete himself.
The post read: 'Put a bloody smile on your face, you sook, and go have a beer' – words spoken by James when asked about his plans after securing the silver medal. However, Rebecca James initially failed to recognise that the account was quoting her brother and expressed her fury publicly.
'How dare you!!!! Such a disappointing comment by you,' an incensed Rebecca wrote in the comments. Several users promptly clarified that the post was merely quoting Scotty James, but Rebecca remained unconvinced by this explanation.
Defending Her Brother's Honour
Rebecca James argued that the context was unclear and insisted the post was inappropriate regardless. 'That's unclear and it's a terrible post either way,' she retorted. Her stance garnered support from other social media users, with one commenting: 'Poor post, give it context. You should know better.' Another added: 'That is disgusting to say such a thing.'
The controversy unfolded after a heartbreaking moment for Scotty James, who was narrowly defeated by Japan's Totsuka Yuto in the men's halfpipe final. Competing in his fifth Olympic Games, James scored impressively but was ultimately surpassed by Yuto's stunning second run, which earned a near-perfect score of 95.00 from the judges.
Historic Achievement Overshadowed by Social Media Storm
Despite the disappointment of missing out on gold, Scotty James made history by becoming the first Australian athlete to win three Olympic medals in snowboarding. His silver medal in Milan–Cortina adds to his previous achievements: a silver from Beijing in 2022 and a bronze from PyeongChang eight years earlier.
The Instagram account in question continues to operate despite The Project's cancellation in June 2025, when it was replaced by 10News+. Channel 10 has confirmed that it does not own or manage any of The Project's social media channels, which remain under the control of Rove Enterprises. The news programme aired nearly 4,500 episodes before its final broadcast on June 27, 2025.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of social media management for defunct television shows and the potential for misinterpretation when content lacks proper context. The James family's reaction underscores the emotional investment that athletes and their loved ones have in public portrayals, particularly following significant sporting events.
