Anthony Bass Makes Public Apology
Yesterday, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass apologized after sharing a post on social media that encouraged Christians to boycott companies such as Target and Bud Light for their embrace of the LGBTQ community.
In a brief statement, Bass expressed remorse for promoting a video on Instagram arguing that people should not spend money to support businesses that “push people, particularly children, to darkness.”
Statement from Anthony Bass: pic.twitter.com/UXLrx1HVO5
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 30, 2023
“I recognize yesterday I made a post that was hurtful to the Pride community, which includes friends of mine and close family members of mine. And I am truly sorry for that,” Bass said. “I just spoke with my teammates and shared with them my actions yesterday. I apologized with them, and as of right now I am using the Blue Jays’ resources to better educate myself to make better decisions moving forward. The ballpark is for everybody. We include all fans at the ballpark. We want to welcome everybody. That’s all I have to say.”
The Toronto Blue Jays also issued a statement commenting on Bass’ comment and shared their value of inclusivity. “The Blue Jays bring millions of fans together across Canada and are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming experience for all,” the statement reads. The Blue Jays also announced plans for a fourth annual Pride Weekend at the ballpark in June.
Bass’ comment sparked boycotts from the businesses involved, with Bud Light, in particular, facing a backlash from their partnership with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. As a result, Bud Light experienced a decline in sales. Likewise, Target also saw a drop in market value due to the outrage expressed over their “Pride” collection.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider noted that more than just an apology from Bass is necessary to move forward. “We’re not going to pretend like this never happened,” Schneider said. “We’re not going to pretend like it’s the end and move on. There are definitely more steps that are going to follow.”
The Blue Jays organization and Anthony Bass have expressed regret for Bass’ comments, and their support for the LGBTQ community remains strong. It remains to be seen what other steps the team takes in response to this incident going forward.