Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner became the latest athlete, and the third major leaguer this month, to have old, embarrassing and offensive tweets resurface.
Tweets dating to 2011 and 2012 from the then-18-year-old’s account included a gay slur, anti-gay comments and a joke with racist undertones.
On Sunday night, Turner issued a statement about the matter.
“There are no excuses for my insensitive and offensive language on Twitter,” Turner, now 25, said. “I am sincerely sorry for those tweets and apologize wholeheartedly. I believe people who know me understand those regrettable actions do not reflect my values or who I am. But I understand the hurtful nature of such language and am sorry to have brought any negative light to the Nationals organization, myself or the game I love.”
Atlanta Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb also apologized Sunday for racist, homophobic and sexist tweets he sent as a teenager, calling them “some stupid stuff.”
Major League Baseball dealt with a similar situation this month involving Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader on the night he pitched in the All-Star Game.
Statement from Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo: pic.twitter.com/mqFa24aix2
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 30, 2018
How many more twitter skeletons in the closet will surface. If they exist, someone will dig them up. This is a Gotcha society we’re living in.
