Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts for the murder of George Floyd in a Minnesota courtroom yesterday. The verdict brought out reactions from all over the sports world, including the NFL and a few teams. Some read the room and got it right. Others not so much.
While the Vikings released a poignant statement about the injustice and enduring pain that Floyd’s death brought to their community, the Raiders decided to go in a different direction by sharing this tweet:
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 20, 2021
Many observers are roasting their social media team’s bad call, but the poor decision apparently goes all the way to the top of the organization. Team owner Mark Davis has taken responsibility and claims that he’s “deepy disappointed” if he offended Floyd’s famiily.
Former Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith is one of many people who have criticized the Raiders for the stunningly tone-deaf message.
The folks who are running the Raiders social media page is sleep, locked out of the account, or drunk in Vegas.
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 21, 2021
Smith followed up with more.
I refuse to believe a diverse social media team ok’d that Raiders tweet
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 21, 2021
I don’t believe the Raiders were being malicious with their tweet but you have to have people around you that know the deal. Hiding behind the family saying “They can breathe today” completely ignores what happened with Eric Garner and the T-shirts mocking his death.
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 21, 2021
The Raiders may not have been intentionally malicious, but to leave the tweet up after the public outcry says a lot about their motivations.
