Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander apologizes for sharing anti-Muslim posts
Anthony Santander issued an apology after posting anti-Muslim content on social media, acknowledging the need for greater care in his public communications.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander posted an apology on Instagram on Friday, saying that reflection and conversations with trusted individuals made him realize he should have been more thoughtful about the material he shared. He said he respects the Muslim community and will avoid disseminating content that could be seen as hateful.
Santander had shared the posts on Nov. 4 and removed them the following morning. The material included a video of a Christian preacher criticizing Muslims and another clip suggesting Sharia law would be imposed in the United States after a hypothetical election of Abdul El-Sayed to the Senate in Michigan.
The apology followed statements from Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro, who had earlier apologized to Muslim fans after meeting with community leaders, and a request from general manager Ross Atkins for Santander to address the controversy publicly. Santander, a 32-year-old Venezuelan, signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto in January 2025 but missed the entire 2026 season due to injuries. The team has not indicated whether any disciplinary action will be taken.