Colleen McKaye, a dedicated Adelaide Crows supporter and past recipient of the AFL Fans Association's Fan of the Year award, has been identified as the individual who wore a blackface costume at a recent elimination final. Mckaye, 59, who has been involved with the club's official cheer squad for over a decade, is reportedly "deeply distressed" by the controversy and has gone into hiding.
"She is not taking any calls at the moment," her son James told media outlets. "I've had all her friends messaging me worried because she's not answering her phone. She's not doing too great after everything." Mckaye was photographed in the stands with her face painted black and wearing a red bow tie, a costume intended to represent the club's mascot, Claude the Crow. The ensemble drew widespread condemnation for its use of blackface, a practice with a long history of racist connotations, particularly in American minstrel shows. The red bow tie also drew criticism due to its association with golliwog dolls, which are widely considered racist caricatures.
"For big games... I dress up in over-the-top clothes to show my Crows colours," McKaye stated in 2018 when she received her fan award. "I live and breathe the Crows and so much of my time is spent supporting them."
Supporters group president Peter Kauschke defended McKaye, suggesting the red bow tie was an accessory that came with the headpiece of the costume, which had become detached. He also shared an opinion piece that criticized the immediate labeling of McKaye as racist.
However, race advocate Suresh Rajan stated that in 2026, a white person painting their face black is "incomprehensible." He emphasized that intent does not negate the impact of racist actions. Rajan further pointed out that the club's mascot does not wear a red bow tie, unlike the imagery associated with blackface minstrels. He reiterated the AFL's stance that any use of blackface is unacceptable, especially in a sport that has significantly benefited from Indigenous players who have often faced racial abuse.
"Blackface is racist. Blackface is offensive. Blackface has no place in Australian society - and absolutely no place in Australian football," Rajan asserted.
The Adelaide Crows have previously been involved in a race-related controversy. In 2021, club stalwart Taylor Walker received a six-week suspension from the AFL for a racist comment made at a game. Walker publicly apologized for his remarks. Mckaye's son indicated that she would not be attending the Crows' upcoming semi-final match and expressed uncertainty about whether she would ever attend a football game again.