Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander issued an apology on Friday regarding social media posts that were criticized as anti-Islamic.
More than a week after sharing the content on his Instagram story, the veteran player published a statement acknowledging the harm caused by his actions, according to Yahoo Sports.
The posts featured reels that suggested Muslims do not support American law and claimed there is no such thing as kind Muslims.
Santander stated that he failed to be thoughtful about his platform, noting that he realizes the content caused hurt.
The apology arrived one day after the Blue Jays organization issued its own statement to the Muslim community, as reported by the team on X.
General manager Ross Atkins previously addressed the controversy during the annual GM meetings.
Atkins expressed significant frustration regarding the player’s conduct, stating that there are no words to express his level of disappointment.
The executive further emphasized that the behavior did not align with the organizational values of the Blue Jays, noting that the club is working hard to ensure a safe environment.
The situation carries particular weight in Toronto, where the Muslim population accounts for nearly ten percent of the city, per Canadian census data.
Santander, who is currently recovering from left labrum surgery, has three years remaining on his contract, as noted in previous reports regarding his free agency deal.
The player concluded his statement by affirming his respect for the Muslim community and expressing a commitment to ensure future communications do not promote hate or discrimination.