Duncan Garner defends Israel Folau's anti-LGBT comment: 'What's wrong with that?'

Duncan Garner has defended rugby star Israel Folau's anti-LGBT comments in which he said gay people were destined for hell.

Folau's comments caused outrage among fans and even prompted him to offer to walk away from his Rugby Australia contract as a result.

But now, The AM Show's Garner has weighed in saying while he doesn't agree with Folau's views, he doesn't have a problem with him sharing them as he was simply quoting the bible.

"That's a lesson, a reading, a teaching in the bible - so he just merely quoted the bible," Garner said. "What's wrong with that? I support his right to be a church-man and to reply like that."

However, Garner's colleagues were quick to disagree. Co-host Amanda Gillies said Folau was in a position of "influence and power", his comments would've set LGBT fans of his "10 steps backwards".

The show's social media presenter Aziz Al-Sa'afin pointed out Folau misquoted the bible, the passage did not make reference to women, and the same bible preached that "slavery is ok as well".

"Tell a parent of a 14-year-old boy who wants to play rugby, who... probably looks up to [Folau]... and he's probably gay and now he's probably considering a different life," Al-Sa'afin said.

Viewers also slammed Garner's comments, saying he had missed totally missed the point and one even went so far as to say Garner was "complicit in hatred".

Duncan Garner is unfit when it comes to dealing with these issues. Fortunately Aziz Al-Sa'afind and Amanda Gillies did him out of the hole his ignorance lands him in. https://t.co/CwSsPxp5he

— Nihil Curtis (@NealCurtis) April 17, 2018

In this day and age there is never a time where homophobia is ok! Most people in high profile positions know what these elevated levels mean & keep outrageous things to themselves. Bad call for Folau’s but even worse is that Duncan Garner is supportive of his right to spread hate

— Sarah Chambers (@sarahpolo10) April 17, 2018

“What’s wrong with that?” The question is what’s wrong with Duncan Garner 🙄 (Great comments from @Azizle 👏🏼) https://t.co/vqli4vfFZe

— Victoria Tupou (@VictoriaTupou) April 16, 2018