EXCLUSIVE: Tina Arena Rejects Calls To Rename Margaret Court Arena After Her

After the backlash caused by tennis legend Margaret Court's inflammatory and homophobic comments about Qantas being "an active promoter for same sex marriage", much debate has erupted about whether Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena should be stripped of Court's name. 

One of the prime, slightly silly, suggestions was to rename the live music venue and sports field Tina Arena Arena — a cheeky suggestion for obvious reasons, but also warranted given that the singer is one of Australia's highest-selling female artists, a multiple-ARIA Award winner and an ARIA Hall Of Fame inductee.

Speaking exclusively to The Music today ahead of her September tour, however, Tina Arena was quick to reject the idea.

"No, no, no — it doesn't have the right ring to it. And, first of all, there are other people that have come before me."

She went on to speak on Court's original controversial comments, stating "she's entitled to her own opinion".

"Margaret Court is gonna have her opinion. She IS of a particular generation. She's entitled to her own opinion. We live in a free country — supposedly — and a democracy where somebody is able to express themselves and also understanding very well that that expression also may be challenged. Now that's what it's about. Whatever she thinks and feels she can say. I don't necessarily agree with it. But I don't think it [the arena] should be called after me. I'm flattered by it — and everyone has a good giggle and I have a good giggle."

Arena suggests the Margaret Court Arena would be better poised to rename themselves with another tennis legend and former world #1.

"For me, if people REALLY don't feel that it should be named after her, well, it should be named after Evonne Goolagong Cawley 'cause she's our first real star tennis player who is a real Australian."

Court's comments were met with much criticism from many prominent figures, including Martina Navratilova, Charlie Pickering and Kitty Flanagan, Ryan Adams, Grinspoon and more.