Athletes have become more accessible than ever before, but this increased visibility sometimes leads to disturbing stories.
After the Broncos’ loss to the Packers on Sunday, safety Kareem Jackson had to confront a deeply disturbing incident. Jackson, who was ejected from the game, received a racist direct message on Instagram, which included a highly offensive racial slur.
There is simply no excuse for speaking to another person in such a disrespectful and offensive manner. Athletes are out on the field, giving their all, but it’s crucial to remember that they are first and foremost people. They deserve basic decency and respect, regardless of what happened during the game. Such behavior is entirely unacceptable.
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In response to the direct message from an individual named Philipp, Kareem Jackson did not remain silent. He publicly called out the sender, wanting everyone to see the kind of racism this person was perpetuating. Jackson even vowed to keep reposting the message throughout the week.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve seen such despicable behavior this season. Vikings’ Alexander Mattison had to deal with a similar incident earlier, prompting both the team and the NFL to release statements of support for Mattison.
It’s our hope that such incidents come to an end. Fans must immediately cease engaging in this kind of behavior.
The situation is reaching a point where athletes may need to consider distancing themselves from social media to avoid such distressing encounters.
