Pride Toronto director says Blue Jays have opportunity after Anthony Bass apology
Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste feels the Toronto Blue Jays have an opportunity to turn a player's negative action into a positive.
Blue Jays reliever Anthony Bass apologized Tuesday for expressing support on social media for anti-2SLGBTQ+ boycotts of Target and Bud Light. A day earlier, he shared an Instagram post urging others to spurn the companies over the support they showed for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
"I think (the team can) just continue to do what is right and continue to respect diversity and continue to spread love, continue to show their support for the 2SLGBTQ community," Modeste said.
"But at the same time, they also have a responsibility to hold all of their staff, all of their players, everyone that's associated with the Jays, they need to hold them accountable and that I would leave for them to manage."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Bass spoke outside the home dugout at Rogers Centre before the Blue Jays' series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
He prefaced his remarks by saying "I'll make this quick," before delivering a statement that lasted 33 seconds.
Bass said he was "truly sorry" for the post and that he'd use team resources to better educate himself, adding "the ballpark is for everybody."
The 35-year-old native of Dearborn, Mich., who has more than 33,000 followers on Instagram, did not take questions.
Modeste said the amplification of a hateful social media post can have a significant impact.
"Let's also think about the young person that might be a prospect or might potentially be the next baseball player," he told The Canadian Press. "And seeing this can deter them. So we need to find opportunities to strengthen our community, not to bring our community down."
General manager Ross Atkins and team president Mark Shapiro were not made available to speak with reporters.
The annual Blue Jays Pride weekend is set for June 9-10. A rainbow flag jersey giveaway was planned and other details were to be released next week.
"Pride Toronto has a very good relationship with the Jays," Modeste said. "I personally have worked very closely with the Jays Care Foundation and I know what they stand for because we have been part of this journey together. I don't believe that one individual is going to change what the Jays are going to do and what the Jays have been doing for the community.
"But ultimately they're going to have to make a decision on who do they want on the team and how do they want to be seen and reflected in the community."
Bass apologized to Atkins and Blue Jays manager John Schneider earlier Tuesday. He also apologized to his teammates as a group at the skipper's prompting.
Since Bass did not speak publicly beyond his brief statement, Schneider was left to handle a series of media questions during a pre-game availability in his office.
"I think the message to the fan base is that we have and will continue to be a huge part of the Pride community," he said. "We're looking forward to the ninth and 10th of June. (This situation) doesn't represent our overall feelings as an organization. We love our fans and we love all the support that we get.
"It was unfortunate that (this) happened. If they take anything, it's that the accountability was there and the awareness of how it made people feel was there."
Bass has played for six other teams over his 12-year big-league career.
"As a man, you stand up and you apologize for what you did," Schneider said. "I think that's a really good first step."
Earlier this year, Bass sparked criticism when he tweeted to complain that a flight attendant had asked his pregnant wife to clean up popcorn their toddler dropped on the floor during a flight.
The right-hander also played for Toronto in the 2020 season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2023.
With files from The Associated Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.