Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander publicly apologized on Friday after promoting social media posts that disparaged Muslims, acknowledging that the material caused offense and did not align with the values he claims to hold.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Santander said that taking time to reflect and speaking with people close to him helped him see that he had been careless in choosing what to amplify, and that a public platform carries obligations he did not fully consider at the time.
“I understand that what I shared caused pain, and I am truly sorry,” Santander wrote.
He voiced respect for the Muslim community and committed to refraining from spreading content that fuels hatred.
“As a man of faith, I believe every individual is entitled to dignity and respect, whatever their religion, background or beliefs,” he said. “Hearing from the people I hurt made it clear that what I posted did not reflect my own convictions.”
The posts went up on Nov. 4 and were removed the following morning. Among them was a video featuring a Christian preacher making derogatory remarks about Muslims, along with a separate item asserting that Sharia law would be imposed across the United States in the wake of Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate victory in Michigan.
Santander’s apology landed one day after Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro expressed regret to Muslim community members and supporters, following a sit-down with local community leaders. Shapiro’s remarks came after general manager Ross Atkins pressed Santander to confront the fallout publicly.
The 32-year-old Venezuelan agreed to a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Toronto in January 2025 but was sidelined for the whole of the 2026 campaign by injuries. Whether the organization will impose any discipline over the posts has not been determined.
