David Warner shares sweet tribute to wife Candice
She’s become the unwitting victim of a vicious sledge from South African cricket fans, but Aussie cricketer David Warner’s wife Candice isn’t letting it get to her.
Taking to Instagram yesterday, David shared a photo collage to celebrate Candice’s 33rd birthday, praising his wife of three years as a “sweet, caring, loving mother and wife”.
“Happy birthday to the lady of my life,” he wrote. “May your day be a great one filled with happiness and joy. Can’t wait to spend the day with you.”
The heartfelt tribute comes just days after David was caught on camera losing his temper at Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock while on his way to the dressing room during the first Test in Durban.
It was later revealed that David was reacting to a personal comment de Kock had made about Candice. In the days that followed, the couple were sledged by South African cricket fans over Candice’s 2007 “toilet tryst” with rugby player Sonny Bill Williams, despite the incident occurring years before David had even met the ironwoman.
Former Aussie netball captain Liz Ellis launched an emotional attack on South African fans after they were photographed wearing Sonny Bill Williams masks, telling Channel Nine’s Sports Sunday program the abuse was “abhorrent”.
“Everyone is focusing on the sledging,” she said. “What I think is the controversy is that 40 years after the sexual revolution ... 40 years after that in the middle of the #MeToo movement, in the week of International Women’s Day, a player’s wife is being dragged through the mud because they’re attempting to shame her for her past.
“My problem is we focus so hard on the sledging we haven’t focused on the bigger issue. We haven’t focused on the issue of what is being said about Candice Warner has nothing to do with the game.”
David admitted his reaction to de Kock’s comment was “probably out of line”, but that he’ll “always stick up for my family”.
“I responded emotionally and regretted the way I played out,” he said.
Image credit: Candice Warner/Instagram.