Boxing superstar Ryan Garcia is facing intense backlash following his recent controversial comments.
On Thursday afternoon, Garcia used several racial slurs and made derogatory remarks about George Floyd during a Twitter space discussion.
The fallout from Garcia’s tirade was swift. The WBC (World Boxing Council) promptly banned him until he seeks help for his personal issues.
RELATED: Video of Ryan Garcia Acting Up While Playing Poker With Jimmy Butler Goes Viral
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman announced via X (formerly Twitter): “Exercising my authority as president of the WBC, I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization. We reject any form of discrimination. I fear for Ryan’s well-being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse.”
In response to the backlash, Garcia issued a statement on Friday, suggesting that people were being overly sensitive to his comments. “Let me get this straight, I’ve actually supported black communities. I have taken racism from Tim Bradley calling me a zoo animal on ESPN,” Garcia wrote. “And turned the other cheek but I’m racist because everyone was just drunk and saying sh*t people say all the time, including black men. If you are triggered by a word then you are too sensitive.”
Garcia continued, “God knows my heart and how I would protect black children till the day I die. I was speaking against black-on-black crime. They took everything out of context.”
Following his initial statement, Garcia posted an apology on Instagram, indicating that he plans to enter rehab. “I grew up in a neighborhood where everyone said that word that now I’m abolishing from my vocabulary. I’ve supported many black men and black communities. I’m not mad at the outrage and I sincerely apologize if I hurt and offended anyone,” Garcia wrote.
He added, “But my pain deserves to be felt, black and brown have always united and it will always be that way. I’m just a shade lighter than you, but I love you and I love black children to the point I’d die for a black child. I was actually speaking against black-on-black crime. Again, I’m sorry.”
Garcia’s comments and subsequent apology highlight a complex and sensitive issue, emphasizing the importance of responsible communication and the impact of words in public discourse. As he steps back to seek rehabilitation, the boxing community and his fans will be watching closely to see how he addresses these issues moving forward.
