Blue Jays' Santander Apologizes for Sharing Anti-Muslim Posts

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander apologized Friday for sharing anti-Muslim social media posts, saying the content caused hurt and fell short of his own convictions, according to ESPN.

The apology, posted as a statement on Instagram, came roughly a week and a half after Santander shared the posts and one day after Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro addressed the matter publicly, ESPN reported.

What did Santander share, and when?

Santander posted the content on Nov. 4 and deleted it the following morning, ESPN reported. The material included a video of a Christian preacher disparaging Muslims and a separate post suggesting Sharia law would be imposed on the United States after Abdul El-Sayed's election to the U.S. Senate in Michigan, according to the outlet's account.

What did Santander say in his apology?

"I realize that this content caused hurt and I sincerely apologize," Santander said in the statement cited by ESPN. He said reflection and conversations with people he trusts led him to recognize he "should have been more thoughtful about what he shared and the responsibility that comes with having a public voice," per the outlet's paraphrase of his statement.

Santander also framed the apology in religious terms. "As a man of faith, it is my belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their religion, background, or beliefs," he said, adding: "After hearing feedback from those I hurt, I realize that the content I shared fell short of my own convictions."

How did the Blue Jays organization respond?

Shapiro addressed the posts a day before Santander's apology, according to ESPN, which linked to a separate team statement saying Santander's posts "don't represent" the organization. ESPN's report does not specify what, if any, disciplinary action the club took.

Does the apology resolve the dispute?

Santander's statement pledges to avoid sharing content that "promotes hate" going forward, per ESPN. The report does not include a response from Muslim community organizations or from Abdul El-Sayed's office, so it remains unclear whether advocacy groups consider the apology sufficient.

Timeline at a glance

• Nov. 4: Santander shares the posts, ESPN reported.
• Nov. 5: He deletes them the following morning, per the same report.
• Nov. 12: Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro addresses the matter, according to ESPN.
• Nov. 13: Santander issues his Instagram apology, ESPN reported.

The Associated Press contributed the original reporting that ESPN published; no independent confirmation of the Instagram statement's full text beyond what ESPN quoted was available in the source material reviewed for this report.