Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander issued an apology on Instagram on Friday, nine days after sharing Islamophobic posts on his social media story. The shared videos featured an image of U.S. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who is Muslim, alongside the text claiming America voted for Sharia, while another video stated that Islam is not peaceful.
Apology and Team Response
Santander expressed regret in his statement, acknowledging that the content caused hurt and that he should have been more thoughtful regarding the responsibility of having a public voice. He also affirmed his respect for the Muslim community.
The apology followed actions from the team, including general manager Ross Atkins speaking to Santander publicly and privately. Additionally, team president Mark Shapiro met with leaders of Toronto’s Muslim communities before releasing a statement that condemned Islamophobia and all forms of hate.
Offseason Impact and Contract Status
Addressing the social media controversy created an unwanted distraction for the Blue Jays at the start of their offseason, particularly involving a player who has contributed very little since signing with the franchise prior to the 2025 season. The 32-year-old outfielder’s posts sparked anger among many fans, while Atkins addressed the situation at the general managers’ meetings instead of focusing solely on offseason plans.
Atkins stated that there were no words to express his level of disappointment and confirmed he had communicated that directly to the player. Over the first two years of his five-year, $92.5 million contract, Santander has appeared in only 54 regular-season games due to back and shoulder injuries, and his deal includes deferred money that makes a trade practically impossible.
