Minnesota Vikings’ Alexander Mattison Slams Racist, Violent Messages: ‘Unacceptable’
This week, the NFL, the Vikings, and other players all stepped out in favor of Mattison.
Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison has spoken out about dozens of “unacceptable” tweets he received following a recent NFL game, many of which contained racist and violent language.
“Y’all can come at me all you want about fantasy and ‘you suck’ blah blah blah,” Mattison, 25, said in an Instagram post following his team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. “I couldn’t care less. But this s— is intolerable. Consider what you say and how it might influence someone. I am a human… a father… a son under the helmet. This is terrible.”
The Vikings star posted two screenshots of texts he received following the game. According to CNN, the screenshots both contained racial slurs and encouraged Mattison to commit suicide.
A number of NFL players expressed their support for Mattison and claimed to receive insulting comments on a weekly basis. Both the NFL and the Vikings issued statements in favor of Mattison.
“We are sickened by the hatred and racial slurs directed toward Alexander Mattison following last night’s game,” said the Vikings in a statement. “There simply is no room for racist words or actions in sports or society.”
The National Football League (NFL) announced that it will “stand firmly with Alexander and remind fans to remember the humanity of all players and celebrate their contributions to the game we all love.”
Mattison issued a lengthy letter on Sunday, opening up about his experience speaking out against the messages he and other players say they frequently receive.
“We are real people under the helmet – men, sons, husbands and brothers,” he remarked. “We should not be dehumanized, nor should our identities or ethnicities be questioned because of our performance on the field.” No athlete should be harassed, disrespected, or threatened.”
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Mattison stated that he will continue to advocate for players’ mental health and “emotional safety” in the future.
“I will continue to spread love and positivity, and shine as much light as I can in this world,” Mattison said in a statement. “Social media has given us great access and proximity to the fans – but it has also opened up a window for bullying and harassment, which cannot be tolerated.”
