Telv Williams, a figure from the reality television show Married At First Sight, has commented on the ongoing investigation involving five Sydney Swans players. Williams, who himself has faced public scrutiny over past drug-related incidents, stated that the players should not be permitted at the club while the investigation is active.
Williams shared his views on social media, noting that the players have been suspended by the club. "All the players have been suspended, which I think is great! It's a step in the right direction," he said. However, he expressed concern about their potential return to the club premises.
"What worries me is these guys returning to their club. Why would you allow them at your club when you have a team full of women? We all know that one in four women will experience sexual assault in her lifetime, those numbers are insane," Williams stated, referencing statistics on sexual assault.
He suggested that some female players could be negatively affected by the presence of the suspended athletes. "Honestly hope the club reconsiders letting the guys go to the club, as some of the women footballers may find this super triggering. If the AFL is serious about growing the women's game, they can't allow these blokes anywhere near the club," he added.
In 2018, Williams was featured in media reports involving footage that appeared to show him snorting white powder from a stripper's body. Further footage emerged later that year, reportedly showing him inhaling a substance from a stripper's breasts. At the time, Williams, a father of two, had been portrayed on Married At First Sight as a single parent.
The Sydney Swans players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, and James Jordon – were suspended by the club for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season. This sanction followed an incident where the players reportedly stayed out late, consumed alcohol, and brought women back to their Melbourne hotel early on a Monday morning. Heeney is reportedly the focus of a separate Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the hotel. No charges have been laid, and the players involved have denied any wrongdoing.
Details emerging from the investigation suggest that the players had arranged for topless dancers to perform in their hotel room. Witnesses reported that hours later, one of the women approached hotel staff, stating she had been "touched" and felt overwhelmed. She reportedly complained to a Swans official about feeling violated and sought to retrieve her belongings from the room. Police were involved after one of the women was seen crying in the hotel restroom.
The Sydney Swans have issued an apology on behalf of the suspended players, acknowledging their behavior fell short of the club's standards and values. The club stated, "We know we have let down our partners and families, members, supporters, teammates, the AFLW team, corporate partners and everyone at the club and the wider community."