Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass issued an apology on Tuesday after posting a video expressing support for a boycott of Target and Bud Light, acknowledging that his words were hurtful to the Pride community.
Prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bass addressed the media, acknowledging the criticism he faced for sharing a video advocating a Christian boycott of the companies due to their LGBTQ advertising controversy.
“I want to make this brief,” Bass stated. “I apologize to my close friends and family who are part of the Pride community for the post I shared yesterday.”
Bass disclosed that he had already apologized to his team and is currently utilizing the Blue Jays’ resources to educate himself on making better choices in the future.
He emphasized that everyone is welcome at the ballpark, and he is genuinely at a loss for words regarding the incident.
The controversy arose after Target faced significant backlash this month for its Pride Month collection, coupled with Bud Light’s collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in March. Bass had shared a video on his Instagram Stories from a creator named Ryan Miller, who called on Christians to participate in the boycotts.
In response to Bass’s comments, the Blue Jays issued a statement clarifying that individual player sentiments do not represent the club’s beliefs. The organization reiterated its commitment to providing an inclusive and welcoming experience for all fans and announced the upcoming Pride Weekend at the ballpark on June 9 and 10, as well as ongoing displays of allyship throughout LGBTQ2S+ Pride Month.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the video clip had been removed from Bass’s Instagram profile.
