Sean Newcomb, #15 of the Atlanta Braves, is interviewed after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Newcomb apologized for sending his old racist, homophobic and sexist tweets
Atlanta Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb apologized Sunday for racist, homophobic and sexist tweets he sent as a teenager, calling them ‘some stupid stuff.’
The 25-year-old Newcomb spoke less than an hour after nearly pitching a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The tweets were sent in 2011 and 2012.
‘I definitely regret it, for sure,’ he said.
‘I just wanted to apologize for any insensitive material. It was a long time ago, six or seven years ago, saying some stupid stuff with friends,’ Newcomb said.
‘I know I’ve grown a lot since then. I didn’t mean anything by it. It was just something stupid I did a long time ago and I didn’t mean anything by it, for sure.’
The horrific tweets, dated from 2011 and 2012, read things such as: ‘This gay black kid won’t stop presenting about black hair… #iwanttoleave.’
Other tweets said: ‘Skinny n***a, big b*lls,’ and ‘I’m not lazy. #f*g.’
MLB said in a statement: ‘Such inappropriate comments have no place in our game. We are aware of this serious issue, Billy Bean will meet with Mr. Newcomb this week, and we will identify an appropriate course of diversity training for him in the Atlanta community.’
Bean is MLB’s vice president for social responsibility and inclusion. He is a former big league outfielder and openly gay.
Newcomb, in his teen years, posted a string of homophobic, racist and sexist tweets
The Atlanta Braves also released a statement on the matter Sunday.
‘We are aware of the tweets that surfaced after today’s game and have spoken to Sean who is incredibly remorseful.
‘Regardless of how long ago he posted them, he is aware of the insensitivity and is taking full responsibility,’ the statement read.
‘We find the tweets hurtful and incredibly disappointing and even though he was 18 or 19 years old when posted, it doesn’t make them any less tolerable.
‘We will work together with Sean towards mending the wounds created in our community.’
Major League Baseball dealt with a similar situation this month involving Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader on the night he pitched in the All-Star Game.
Hader apologized after offensive tweets sent when he was a teen came to light on July 17.
The next day, MLB said the 24-year-old Hader will be required to go through sensitivity training and participate in diversity and inclusion initiatives. Hader also met with Bean.
‘We are aware of the tweets that surfaced after today’s game and have spoken to Sean, who is incredibly remorseful,’ the Braves said in a statement posted on Twitter.
The Atlanta Braves released a statement on the matter Sunday. The statement said in part: ‘We will work together with Sean towards mending the wounds created in our community’
‘Regardless of how long ago he posted them, he is aware of the insensitivity and is taking full responsibility.’
‘We find the tweets hurtful and incredibly disappointing and even though he was 18 or 19 years old when posted, it doesn’t make them any less tolerable.
We will work together with Sean towards mending the wounds created in our community,’ the team said.
Atlanta’s clubhouse had already closed to the media after he answered questions about his career-best moment, a 4-1 victory in which he came within one strike of pitching a no-hitter.
Chris Taylor broke up the bid with two out single in the ninth inning.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Newcomb works in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Atlanta
Newcomb works in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Atlanta. Newcomb said Sunday he regrets the tweets
Newcomb said he had forgotten about the tweets until he picked up his phone postgame and saw mentions of the posts.
The Braves reopened the locker room about 30 minutes later – Newcomb said it was his idea for a team official to bring reporters back downstairs so he could address the subject.
‘This is something obviously that can’t be happening,’ he said. ‘I feel bad about it. I don’t mean to offend anybody. It was six, seven years ago. I didn’t mean anything by it and I definitely regret it, for sure.’
Newcomb said he doesn’t think the tweets will cause fallout among current teammates.
‘No, I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘I think people that know me know that’s not the kind of person I am. It’s been a long time since then and at the same time I didn’t mean anything by it.’