Anthony Santander apologizes for anti-Muslim posts after Blue Jays response

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander apologized on Friday for sharing anti-Muslim material on social media, following criticism from his club and concerns raised by community representatives. CityNews reported that Santander acknowledged the hurt caused by the posts, which he had removed after publishing them in the aftermath of the U.S. midterm elections.

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In his Instagram statement, Santander said he had reconsidered his actions after discussions with people he trusted. He acknowledged that having a public platform required greater care over what he shared. The Detroit News reported that his five-paragraph apology also affirmed his respect for the Muslim community and for the dignity and freedom of people from every faith and background in the statement published Friday.

The Associated Press reported that Santander shared the material on November 4 and deleted it the following morning. The posts included a preacher disparaging Muslims and a video suggesting that Sharia law would be imposed in the United States following Abdul El-Sayed's election to the Senate in Michigan.

The player's response came after the Blue Jays issued their own apology on Thursday. According to CityNews, team president and chief executive Mark Shapiro had met with Muslim community leaders before that statement. The club apologized to the community and its supporters, and committed to working with Muslim leaders against hate while maintaining an inclusive organization.

Community representatives had also called for a response from Santander himself. CityNews cited comments to The Canadian Press from Steven Zhou, a spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, who said on Monday that an apology was a priority. Zhou also expressed hope for education and a stronger relationship to emerge from the episode.

General manager Ross Atkins had asked Santander to address the matter publicly, AP reported. Whether Toronto would impose disciplinary action remained unclear. Santander, 32, joined the Blue Jays on a five-year, $92.5 million contract in January 2025 and missed the entire 2026 season because of injuries.