Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass apologizes for ‘hurtful’ Instagram post in support of Target and Bud Light anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts and insists ‘the ballpark is for everyone’
- Anthony Bass apologized for posts promoting protests by pro-LGBT businesses
- Bass has appeared in 20 games this season and posted a 4.50 ERA with 18 K’s
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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass apologized Tuesday for expressing support on social media for anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts from Target and Bud Light.
Bass shared a post on his Instagram stories on Monday urging others to reject the US companies for their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Both companies are dealing with fallout from those campaigns, including hostile and homophobic criticism and calls from LGBTQ+ activists not to give in to anti-LGBTQ+ groups.
The right-handed reliever made a brief statement on the field, but did not answer any questions before the Blue Jays received Milwaukee.
“I acknowledge that I posted a message yesterday that was hurtful to the Pride community, including friends of mine and close relatives of mine,” Bass said. ‘I am really sorry.’
Anthony Bass apologized for an Instagram post in which he supported anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts
Bass said he confronted teammates about the controversial post and apologized for sharing it.
“From now on, I’m using the resources of the Blue Jays to better educate myself to make better decisions,” said Bass. “The baseball field is for everyone. We involve all fans on the ballpark. We want to welcome everyone. That’s all I have to say.’
Manager John Schneider said Bass apologized to him and general manager Ross Atkins when he arrived at the ballpark on Tuesday. Schneider suggested that Bass talk to the team.
June is Pride Month in Toronto, with an associated festival that is one of the largest of all in Ontario. More than 200,000 demonstrators and more than two million spectators are expected at Toronto’s annual Pride Parade on June 25.
Schneider said Bass’s post “does not reflect our overall feelings as an organization.”
The Blue Jays are celebrating Pride Weekend on Friday, June 9 and 10, with plans to hand out 15,000 rainbow flag jerseys Friday night.
“The message to the fan base is that we are and will continue to be a huge part of the Pride community,” Schneider said.
Schneider said the Blue Jays were not talking about disciplining Bass.
Bass, 35, said he is “using the resources of the Blue Jays to better educate myself”
Bass played in 20 games this season and scored a 4.50 ERA with 18 strikeouts
Pride Nights have led to divisions over sports in recent years. On Monday, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw told The Los Angeles Times that he disagreed with his team’s recent decision to welcome a satirical LGBTQ+ group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to its annual Pride Night. of the team.
Last season, several Tampa Bay Rays players cited their Christian faith by refusing to wear Pride jerseys.
Earlier this year, Bass sparked criticism when he posted a tweet complaining that a flight attendant had asked his pregnant wife to clean up popcorn that their toddler had spilled on the floor during a flight.
Now in his 12th season, Bass has also pitched for San Diego, Houston, Texas, the Chicago Cubs, Seattle and Miami. He is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 20 games this season.