MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian cricketer James Faulkner has clarified a vague social media post about his dinner with a “boyfriend” that led to reports that the World Cup star had come out as gay. Faulkner made a controversial post on Instagram late Monday and described it on Twitter as having a birthday dinner with a boyfriend — his long-time business partner Rob Jubb — and his mother. The post was followed by three love hearts and a hashtag that implied they’d been together for five years. Cricket Australia released a statement early Tuesday apologizing for any “intended offence,” saying it didn’t consider Faulkner’s social media post to be a joke, more a reflection on a long friendship. “His comment was made as a genuine reflection of his relationship with his business partner, best friend and house mate of five years,” the Cricket Australia statement said.

Source: National Post April 30, 2019 04:07 UTC