Blue Jays Apologize After Player Shares Islamophobic Posts
Toronto Blue Jays issue apology after Venezuelan player shares Islamophobic content, sparking backlash from Muslim community.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have issued a public apology following controversy sparked by a Venezuelan player’s social media posts that critics say promoted Islamophobia. The team’s president and CEO, Mark Shapiro, stated that officials met with Muslim community leaders in Toronto to address the harm caused by the posts.
Toronto Blue Jays issued an apology for “Islamophobic” posts made by their player Anthony Santander, who criticized the election of Abdul El-Sayed and warned about the dangers of sharia law https://t.co/Ii1RHJxzSy
The videos, which were later deleted, included a Christian preacher stating, “There is no such thing as kind Muslims,” and another suggesting Sharia law would be imposed after Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the Senate in Michigan. Additional shared posts had captions such as “America voted for Sharia last night” and “Islam is not peaceful.”
Shapiro emphasized the importance of listening and learning, stating, “The opportunity to listen and learn was important and reaffirms our beliefs and values as an organization. We condemn Islamophobia and all forms of hate.” He added, “The Blue Jays are deeply sorry to the Muslim community and our fans for the pain and harm these Islamophobic posts have caused. We will work with leaders in Muslim communities to fight against all forms of hate. The Blue Jays will continue to ensure our organization reflects the inclusive community we are proud to call home.”
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General manager Ross Atkins, speaking at Major League Baseball’s GM meetings in Las Vegas, said he had spoken with Santander and asked him to address the controversy publicly. “There really aren’t words to express my level of disappointment,” Atkins told reporters.
Santander, however, has yet to publicly comment or apologize, and neither he nor his sports management agency has responded to messages from multiple outlets seeking comment. The 32-year-old signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto in 2025 after eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Blue Jays are Canada’s only MLB team. Statistics Canada data shows more than 1.78 million Muslims nationwide, with about 10 percent of Toronto’s 2.8 million residents identifying as Muslim.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
