TSN radio host apologizes for “inconsiderate” tweet about Blue Jays' Kirk
TSN Radio host Matthew Ross likely learned a valuable lesson over the past week: don’t tweet out stupid opinions, and especially don’t piss off Blue Jays fans.
Ross, a Montreal-based TSN 690 sports talk radio weekend host, drew the ire of the Canadian baseball community — as well as Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah — when he tweeted an opinion about the Jays celebrating the 5′8″, 245-pound Alejandro Kirk’s baserunning. calling it “embarrassing for the sport” while making a series of now-deleted follow-up comments about Kirk’s weight.
Manoah caught wind of the tweets and shared his own opinion on Ross, which brought the tweets to a wider audience. And within a few hours, Ross’ social media accounts had gone dark, taking the original tweets with him, though screenshots remain.
This weekend, Ross issued an apology for the tweets, though his accounts remain offline.
“What was I thinking?” Ross wrote in an apology statement, available in full below. “I ineloquently tweeted what I did because I thought the clip would lead to more jokes about the sport. That was it. It was never about anything else.”
The backstory
On Wednesday evening last week, Ross tweeted out the following while sharing a clip of Kirk running posted by the Jays’ account:
“It’s cute and all, but it’s also embarrassing for the sport. Giving guys like this prominence feeds negative *baseball emoji* stereotypes,” Ross said.
Matthew Ross a Sports writer has deleted his Instagram Facebook & Twitter page when one of the Toronto team @Alek_Manoah6 told him what he thought of the insults of our lovely Alejandro Kirk on several posts.. Just shows you players do read some social media pic.twitter.com/fdkURRoiSq
— Merlin's Friend (@Conner1Brenda) September 15, 2022
Manoah, as we’ve said, wasn’t a huge fan of those tweets.
Just step aside from the keyboard and let KIRK inspire those kids to continue to chase their dreams and chase greatness.
— MANOAH (@Alek_Manoah6) September 15, 2022
“What’s actually embarrassing for the sport is people that go by the name of Matthew and have never played a day in the big leagues thinking they can control the narrative and stereotypes. Go ahead and tell that 8 year old kid who is 10lbs over weight that he should quit now,” Manoah wrote.
“Just step aside from the keyboard and let KIRK inspire those kids to continue to chase their dreams and chase greatness,” Manoah added.
Ross then suggested players with Kirk’s body type draw attention away from the sport, which Manoah also refuted.
So now your saying attendance is down because too many big guys play the sport? Then let me ask you, why did he get millions of votes to start the all star game?
And What’s Narrow is your nose you should probably fix that. Your ratings are down cause of it. https://t.co/OeiyS7ocJi— MANOAH (@Alek_Manoah6) September 15, 2022
Just… No. Matthew Ross does not get it. pic.twitter.com/kuvjP6B7Pf
— Sean Fitzgerald (@fitzonsportsbsr) September 15, 2022
After catching a public firestorm, Ross first protected his Twitter account before shutting it down entirely. As of press time, the account remains inactive.
The apology
On Saturday, Jays fan Eric Rosenhek shared an apology statement from Matthew Ross, which was originally shared via Ross’ TSN show Facebook page:
“The words were harsh, the sentiment was out of bounds, and I deeply regret it, period,” Ross wrote.
The following message is from Matthew Ross. Please see below:#BlueJays @alejandro_kirk @Alek_Manoah6 pic.twitter.com/OVxZndmmsw
— Eric Rosenhek (@TheHek) September 18, 2022
Ross’ full apology can be read below:
An apology:
I want to sincerely apologize to Alejandro Kirk, Alek Manoah, The Toronto Blue Jays, Jays fans and anyone else offended by my initial tweet. The words were harsh. The sentiment was out of bounds and I deeply regret it. Period.
What was I thinking, when the Jays posted the clip of Mr. Kirk running the bases? I took it as tongue in cheek, almost as though they were poking fun. I thought about the hundreds of people lifetime who’ve attacked me for loving baseball and who’ve said they’re not athletes. So I ineloquently tweeted what I did because I thought the clip would lead to more jokes about the sport. That was it. It was never about anything else.
When Mr. Manoah defended his teammate. and I wish all of us had a friend as great as he is, the narrative went in a different direction. referring to all people who may be struggling with body issues. It never dawned on me that this is where the topic could go. I was a sports host having a take on something sports related. But I was insensitive and wrong for posting this.
As someone who experienced the horrors of bullying. And who has seen people close to me deal with very painful body related struggles, my heart broke that anyone could think of me as this monster. All of my adult life, I’ve stood up against any form of prejudice. Those who know me will attest to this. I was clumsy and inconsiderate in my sports commentary. Defaming people for the way they look is not where my heart or intent was in this moment – or ever!
I apologize profusely to anyone who was offended. I will learn from this moment and continue to evolve. Thank you all for reading.
Matthew Ross
Jays fans weren’t exactly quick to forgive Ross, though.
everything that isn't highlighted should have stayed in the drafts pic.twitter.com/uE25J1zgyy
— Infield Fly Girl (@infieldflygrl) September 18, 2022
thanks for the apology… but he kept going with it and didn’t realize how terrible it was until he had to deactivate his account and the tweet got attention.
— ✭andrew⁴ BO-LIEVING (@spr1nge4) September 18, 2022
I don’t buy his apology. This guy has been fat shaming our players before.#NextLevel https://t.co/i5OHeN7pYX pic.twitter.com/v18JqnDvAA
— Doc Naismith (@DocNaismith) September 19, 2022
Yeah nope I don't buy it. Dude triple downed when people called out that his initial tweet was insensitive, including to Manoah.
If he realized the tweet "went the wrong direction" it should have been obvious once Manoah got involved, not days later. https://t.co/pjvXZ2eDNK pic.twitter.com/XWNHMLOjpY
— 𝓙S (@LoudlySilent24) September 19, 2022
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