Photo:Mark Blinch/Getty
Mark Blinch/Getty
Update: On Friday, the day he was scheduled to catch a ceremonial first pitch as part of the Toronto Blue Jays' celebration of Pride Weekend, the team designated relief pitcher Anthony Bass for assignment, meaning he has been released from the team’s 40-man roster. Bass was released after the publication of this article amid controversy surrounding an anti-LGBTQ post he shared on Instagram.
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcherAnthony Basswill participate in the ceremonial first pitch for Pride Weekend, days after reposting an anti-LGBTQ video on Instagram.
Bass reposted a video that praised the boycotting of Bud Light and Target for their measures supporting the LGBTQ community. The video referred to selling Pride-themed merchandise as “evil” and “demonic,“according to ESPN.com.
On Thursday, the pitcher told reporters before the team’s final game in a series at Houston that “the video reflected my [Christian] beliefs,” but that he has had a “productive meeting” with Sherwin Modeste, the executive director of Pride Toronto.
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Bass, who has a 4.95 ERA in 22 appearances this season, was not disciplined for his social media actions, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said.
“That was the most significant piece is that he was accountable,” Atkins said. “He wanted to apologize, not just to me, which was very important, but more importantly to our community and this community. Without that, as I said, we’d have a very different outcome. And then I think the willingness to do something about it, being paramount and seeing that step taken is a good first step.”
Many Toronto fans on social media have been less enthusiastic about Bass’ scheduled appearance Friday.
Meanwhile, another wrote: “Is the first pitch ceremony where every fan gets a baseball and throws it at Anthony Bass?”
source: people.com
