The Toronto Blue Jays issued a public statement addressing anti-Muslim content shared on the verified Instagram account of outfielder Anthony Santander. The posts appeared on the player’s personal page on Wednesday, Nov. 4, following the U.S. nationwide elections.
Details of the Instagram Posts and Team Response
Screenshots of Santander’s Instagram stories showed two shared reels. One video featured Abdul El-Sayed, who won a Senate race in Michigan to become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, accompanied by a caption stating, “America voted for Sharia (law) last night!” A second post shared in the screenshots included a video caption reading, “Islam is not peaceful.”
By Thursday evening, the posts were no longer visible on Santander’s account. While Instagram stories typically expire after 24 hours, several social media users shared screenshots online indicating that the content had been deleted prior to the standard expiration time.
In a statement provided to multiple media outlets on Thursday, the Blue Jays distanced the franchise from the player’s posts. “Baseball is for everyone, and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at our ballpark,” the team stated, as reported by USA TODAY Sports. “Individual comments do not represent our organization’s values and beliefs.”
Santander’s Recent Season and Contract Details
Santander, a 32-year-old native of Venezuela, is currently in the first year of a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto. His availability during the 2025 regular season was limited to 54 games after he suffered a left shoulder subluxation that required surgery in February.
Although he returned to participate in five postseason games, a subsequent back injury forced him off the ALCS roster. Toronto advanced to the World Series, where the team lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
