Blue Jays Apologize to Muslim Fans, Then Santander Issues His Own Apology

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander has apologized for sharing anti-Muslim social media posts, a day after the team's top executive apologized to Toronto's Muslim community and to fans. Santander said the content caused hurt and fell short of his own convictions, according to the Independent, which cited a statement he posted on Instagram on Friday.

The team has not said whether it will discipline the player, who is 32 and from Venezuela.

How the controversy unfolded

Nov. 4: Santander shared the posts in the aftermath of the U.S. midterm elections and deleted them the next morning, Global News reported.
Tuesday: General manager Ross Atkins, speaking at Major League Baseball's general managers meetings in Las Vegas, said he had recently spoken with Santander and asked him to address the matter publicly. Atkins told reporters he could not find words for his level of disappointment.
Thursday: Team president and chief executive Mark Shapiro met with leaders of Toronto's Muslim communities and then issued a public apology.
Friday: Santander posted his own statement on Instagram.

What the posts contained

Santander shared videos that included a Christian preacher disparaging Muslims. Another suggested Sharia law would be imposed on the United States after Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the Senate in Michigan, according to both Global News and the Independent.

What the team and the player said

Shapiro said the team heard from community leaders about the harm the posts caused, and that the meeting reaffirmed the organization's values. He said the Blue Jays condemn Islamophobia and all forms of hate, and that the club would work with Muslim community leaders to fight against hate.

In his own statement, Santander said that reflection and conversations with people he trusts had led him to recognize he should have been more thoughtful about what he shared, and about the responsibility that comes with a public voice. He expressed respect for the Muslim community and pledged to avoid sharing content that promotes hate.

Before Santander spoke out, Global News reported that he and the sports management agency that represents him had not responded to multiple messages seeking comment.

What the community says

Steven Zhou, the media and communications lead for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said several community advocates attended the meeting with the team, which lasted about an hour. He called it an initial meeting and a positive step, pointing to the public apology from the club and a commitment to put the player through training.

Zhou said the next step the community wants to see is an apology from the player himself, along with an explanation of why the posts were wrong and a path forward. Earlier in the week, he said the posts had a significant impact and that many Muslims are baseball and Blue Jays fans. Community members, he said, were very upset.

Why it matters for Blue Jays fans

The Blue Jays are the only MLB team in Canada. According to 2021 census data from Statistics Canada, the country has a population of more than 1.78 million Muslims, and about 10% of Toronto's 2.8 million residents identify as Muslim, Global News reported. That makes the team's relationship with the community a local issue as much as a sports one.

Santander signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto in January 2025. He did not play at the big-league level last season because of injuries. In 2025, he hit .175 with six home runs in 54 games, after hitting 44 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. He is expected to be healthy for the 2027 season and to return as an everyday player.

Global News reported that questions also remain about how any social media policy or morality clause in his contract might apply. Messages left with the team and with its owner, Rogers Communications Inc., on those subjects were not immediately returned.

What happens next

Whether the Blue Jays will discipline Santander has not been disclosed. Spring training is scheduled to begin in February, but Global News reported a strong possibility of an MLB lockout starting next month, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Global News, The Independent

Cover photo: Rowanswiki / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

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