'Social media is a trap,' warns Denny Solomona in the wake of the Folau fall-out

Controversial Sale winger Denny Solomona has spoken out about the trap of social media in the wake of the high profile controversy surrounding Israel Folau.

The England international isn’t immune to using the mediums. After all, he has 13,000 Twitter followers and another 21,000 checking him out on Instagram.

However, he has been busy steeling himself in the recent past towards ensuring he doesn’t take any negative comments about him to heart.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion but, for me, social media is a trap,” he said in an interview with the UK-based Telegraph newspaper.

“People become fixated on the negatives of it. There might be thousands of positive comments towards you but if there is one negative, it can rile you.

“I believe in God, but I’ve probably done six of the other seven of the things [Folau] listed,” added Solomona, moving on to the controversy ignited by the Australian international Folau whose Instagram post has left Rugby Australia wanting to terminate his recently inked four-year contract extension.

'I've probably done six of the eight things Israel Folau said send you to hell'

Denny Solomona exclusive interview | @CharlieFelix https://t.co/CHPYfpugj0

— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) April 17, 2019

“What I think he’s saying is that it’s never too late to turn to faith if you want guidance,” said Solomona.

“I’ve been in the media for a lot of controversial things, but my faith has led to me being a better person now. I’ve learned my lessons and that’s what I think [Folau and Billy Vunipola] are trying to say, that whatever you believe in – Mother Earth, whatever – you can turn to it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEWt2uHcLI/

One of the issues Solomona has found himself engulfed by was an allegation that he called an opposition player a “f…..g f….t”.

He denied using the homophobic slur and while a disciplinary panel found him guilty on the balance of probability and issued a four-week ban, he still maintains his innocence and stresses his reasons for not going down the appeal route was the possibility it could have interfered with his selection for England’s June 2018 tour to South Africa.

A very open discussion with @DennySolomona in @RugbyPass about coping with mistakes and depression. It’s important to hear from someone successful that #ItsOkNotToBeOk and everyone makes mistakes. Thank you for sharing Denny #MentalHealthAwareness https://t.co/5ZAB8FzBlJ

— Sale FC Rugby (@SaleFC) March 1, 2019

“I have a lot of gay relatives. Gay people aren’t an issue for me – I accept people for who they are. And anyone can play rugby, no matter who they are. I don’t even know why that is a conversation. Everyone should live their life and be loving,” said Solomona.

“It was one man’s word against mine. I know what I said. [Shillcock] knows what he thinks I said. I was found guilty, but I’m not going to be worried about my past because I’m all about my future.”