The inaugural NFL game held in Australia, featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, commenced with a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony, an Indigenous land acknowledgment that subsequently ignited a discussion online among American commentators and fans.
Senior Wurundjeri Elder of the Kulin Nation, Joy Murphy Waldin, delivered the welcome, honoring "60,000 years of our culture" and extending respect to American visitors and those observing remotely. The ceremony was met with applause from attendees at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
However, the pre-game ritual quickly became a topic of contention on social media. Political commentator Clay Travis shared a video of the ceremony, labeling it "insane" and drawing parallels to U.S. political discourse. He suggested that a significant portion of Australians found the acknowledgment "bats--t insane" but had "lost the culture battles."
Laura Ingraham, a Fox News host, also commented on the ceremony, posting an image and stating, "Of course, the NFL travelled to Australia and HAD to do a land acknowledgement." Other social media users, including "The Purple Mafia" and John Cassio, expressed similar sentiments, with one user humorously noting the potential reaction of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The San Francisco 49ers ultimately won the game against the Los Angeles Rams with a score of 27-7. The Rams had arrived in Australia the night before the game, while the 49ers arrived a week prior.