Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was unhappy after his team’s loss on Sunday, but not just because of his on-field performance.
Rather, the two-time NFL MVP was angry about an anti-Muslim comment he heard coming from his home crowd during a moment of silence before the game to honor the victims of the Paris.
“I think it’s important to do things like [the moment of silence],” Rodgers told ESPN’s Bob Holtzman. “We’re a connected world — you know, six degrees of separation.
“I must admit, though, I was very disappointed with whoever the fan was who made a comment that I thought was really inappropriate during the moment of silence. It’s that kind of prejudicial ideology that I think puts us in the position that we’re in today as a world.”
https://twitter.com/MattJ_onNFL/status/666018087724912641
Rodgers did not specify what the comment was, but there have been reports that some in the crowd yelled “Muslims suck” and “Death to Muslims.” As ThinkProgress has previously reported, ISIS is not, in fact, Islamic, and Muslims around the world have publicly condemned the horrific attacks.
The NFL joined other sports leagues in paying tribute to the victims in Paris during their games on Sunday. There were moments of silence throughout the league, and many teams, players and fans displayed French flags. Not all of these tributes were well received, such as the one in New York, where a small French flag was displayed next to an American flag that took up the entire field.
But Rodgers has received praise from the NFL community for speaking out against the prejudice against Muslims that has been heightened since a terrorist attack by ISIS killed at least 132 and injured over 300 last Friday. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted out, “Much respect, [Aaron Rodgers],” while former Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask shared her thanks as well.
Thank you @AaronRodgers12 for condemning prejudice & bigotry, which is never okay, no matter what.
— Amy Trask (@AmyTrask) November 15, 2015
“Rodgers couldn’t have handled it better,” James Parker of Addicting Info wrote. “Rather than ignore the hatred, Rodgers faced it head on and pointed out why it’s not okay. The same kind of dehumanizing prejudice that leads to a person shamefully yelling ‘Muslims suck’ during a moment of silence also motivates extremists to rationalize killing innocents in the name of their religion, or cause, or ideology.”