The Toronto Blue Jays issued a formal apology Thursday to the Muslim community and the team’s fans for the “pain and harm” caused by outfielder Anthony Santander’s social media posts.
The Venezuelan player had shared posts criticizing Islam and warning that the election of Michigan’s new senator would impose Sharia law in the United States.
The videos, which he deleted two days later, included a Christian preacher stating, “There is no such thing as kind Muslims,” along with another suggesting Sharia law would be imposed after Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the Senate in Michigan.
Toronto Blue Jays issued an apology for “Islamophobic” posts made by their player Anthony Santander, who criticized the election of Abdul El-Sayed and warned about the dangers of sharia law https://t.co/Ii1RHJxzSy
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 12, 2026
Additional shared posts had captions such as “America voted for Sharia last night” and “Islam is not peaceful.”
Team president and CEO Mark Shapiro said in a statement that Blue Jays officials met with leaders in Toronto’s Muslim communities, who shared the harm caused by the posts.
https://t.co/mx3xaaKnWy
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 12, 2026
“The opportunity to listen and learn was important and reaffirms our beliefs and values as an organization. We condemn Islamophobia and all forms of hate,” Shapiro stated. “The Blue Jays are deeply sorry to the Muslim community and our fans for the pain and harm these Islamophobic posts have caused. We will work with leaders in Muslim communities to fight against all forms of hate. The Blue Jays will continue to ensure our organization reflects the inclusive community we are proud to call home.”
General manager Ross Atkins, speaking Tuesday at Major League Baseball’s GM meetings in Las Vegas, said he had spoken with Santander and asked him to address the controversy publicly, according to a report from the Globe and Mail
Atkins told reporters, “There really aren’t words to express my level of disappointment.”
Santander, however, has yet to publicly comment or apologize, and neither he nor his sports management agency has responded to messages from multiple outlets seeking comment.
Santander, 32, signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto in 2025 after eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Blue Jays are Canada’s only MLB team.
Statistics Canada data shows more than 1.78 million Muslims nationwide, with about 10 percent of Toronto’s 2.8 million residents identifying as Muslim.
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