Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander apologized Friday for sharing anti-Muslim social media posts, saying the content caused hurt and fell short of his own convictions.
In a statement on Instagram, Santander said reflection and conversations with people he trusts made him recognize he should have been more thoughtful about what he shared and the responsibility that comes with having a public voice.
“As a man of faith, it is my belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their religion, background, or beliefs,” Santander wrote.
“I would like to affirm my respect for the Muslim community and for the dignity and freedom of people of every faith and background.”
Santander shared the posts Nov. 4, a day after the U.S. midterm elections, and deleted them the next morning. They included a video of a Christian preacher disparaging Muslims and another suggesting Sharia law would be imposed on the United States after Abdul El-Sayed’s election to the Senate in Michigan.
His apology came a day after Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro apologized to the Muslim community and fans following a meeting with community leaders, and after general manager Ross Atkins asked Santander to publicly address the controversy.
“I realize that this content caused hurt and I sincerely apologize,” Santander wrote. “I should have been more thoughtful about what I shared, recognizing the responsibility that comes with having a public voice.”
Santander added that the experience has taught him to ensure none of his communications promote hate or give the impression he supports discrimination or violence against anyone.
The 32-year-old Venezuelan signed a five-year, US$92.5-million contract with Toronto in January 2025 but missed the entire 2026 big-league season because of injuries, and it remains unclear whether the team will discipline him over the posts.
The Blue Jays are the only MLB team in Canada, which has a population of over 1.78 million Muslims, per 2021 census data from Statistics Canada. About 10 per cent of Toronto’s 2.8 million residents identify as Muslim, the agency said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2026.
