Multiple Kansas State football players are speaking out in response to an offensive tweet from a student at the university.
In a tweet sent Thursday, Kansas State student Jaden McNeil mocked George Floyd, who died May 25 after a now-former Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!
— Jaden McNeil (@McNeilJaden) June 25, 2020
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Wildcats defensive back Tee Denson condemned McNeil's post, saying he would "refuse to play for a program that tolerates ignorance."
i refuse to play for a program that tolerates ignorance such as this .. @KState https://t.co/KfFN14t6sR
— tee (@teedenson) June 26, 2020
Fellow Kansas State players Joshua Youngblood, Malik Knowles and Walter Neil Jr. also called for the school to take immediate action. In a since-deleted tweet, Youngblood said he wouldn't return to Kansas State until McNeil is "kicked out."
And he go to kstate ?? Naw sum gotta change now fr. @KState y’all need to do something https://t.co/FZStP7Uf3B
— Joshua Youngblood (@YB060) June 26, 2020
What makes you think Is something cool to say bro .. @KState we have to make a change https://t.co/mnvEPYw7TP
— Malik⁴🕵🏽♂️ (@Leekfor6) June 26, 2020
YES, I am a football player BUT I’m a BLACK man first .... @KState Get this handled NOW ... Sh** is ridiculous! https://t.co/J9ZazPczl7
— Walter Neil Jr (@1WayWalt) June 26, 2020
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor released a statement addressing the controversy Friday morning, which was retweeted by head coach Chris Klieman.
"Recent tweets from a K-State student downplaying the Black Lives Matter effort and the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd are disgusting and totally inappropriate and not reflective of who we are as a university or our athletic department," Taylor said. "They are not reflective of our administration and goals.
"We are committed to listening and supporting our Black athletes, Black students and members of our Black community and taking positive steps in the matters of social injustice and racism."
Our program and our coaches will continue to be part of the solution when it comes to racial injustice. I love our players and they know I have their backs.
— Chris Klieman (@CoachKli) June 26, 2020
McNeil is the president and founder of America First Students, an organization "defined by our support for closed borders, traditional families, the American worker and Christian values." McNeil and his organization were accused of having ties to white nationalism earlier this year, but he denied representing white nationalism "in any way, shape or form."
In a statement shared Friday afternoon, Kansas State president Richard Myers said the university is launching an immediate review of its options and declared the school will "continue to fight for social justice."
"The insensitive comments posted by one K-State student hurts our entire community. These divisive statements do not represent for the values of our university," Myers said. "We condemn racism and bigotry in all its forms."
