The internet is still a place where the toxic can hide their faces in hopes of never being exposed. However, ESPN analyst Ryan Clark is part of the athletes and former athletes seeking to change that.
The former NFL safety recently exposed racist and homophobic direct messages (DMs) on his Instagram page. The NSFW language was sent by a user called @realty_realtor, who came for Clark, reportedly spewing the N-word and making homophobic statements.
Trolls Keep Trolling
Additionally, the person trolling tried to hit a sore spot for Clark mentioning his and the Steelers’ 2011 Super Bowl loss against the Green Bay Packers.
However, Clark clapped back with a mild response: “God bless you and yours. I pray you live forever.”
Clark then tweeted a screenshot of the DM and had fun at the expense of the person who tried to victimize him, while leaving a poignant tongue-in-cheek mic drop about racism still being alive and well.
Y’all at least go to put a picture up Green Bay fans!! This isn’t even fun. Sheesh!!
Man good thing racism doesn’t exist huh? pic.twitter.com/I7WNTEu9Cz
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 23, 2021
“Y’all at least go to put a picture up Green Bay fans!! This isn’t even fun. Sheesh!! Man good thing racism doesn’t exist huh?”
Broadcast Ubiquity
Clark, a ubiquitous ESPN analyst, can dust his shoulders off as one of the emerging faces in broadcast sports.
In February, ESPN re-signed Ryan Clark to a multi-year deal. It extended the Super Bowl Champion’s tenure with the network that began in 2015.
“300” https://t.co/dw77cJYqz8
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 23, 2021
Clark, a former Pro Bowl safety, is a year-round presence on multiple shows and platforms, including surrounding the NFL’s most significant annual events — Super Bowl, Draft, free agency and training camp. Additionally, he appears on SportsCenter with SVP following “Monday Night Football,” “Get Up,” and “NFL Live” each week; no wonder the trolls are hating.
NFL Legend
Clark retired from his 13-year NFL playing career following the 2014 season. However, during the Louisiana native’s NFL career, he won Super Bowl XLIII, two AFC Championships (2008 and 2010), and was named a Pro Bowler (2011).
He had most of these accomplishments as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he made his bones playing the majority of his career (2006-13). He entered the league with the New York Giants (2002-03) and played for Washington in two different stints (2004-05, 2014).
It will be well worth your time today to watch @realrclark25 speak on a recent incident involving his son, Jordan, and two other Arizona State football players who say they were called a racial slur by a Whataburger customer on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/fftWwvgyx8
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 19, 2020
Clark is not alone in his family as an athlete experiencing racism. In 2020, he revealed on “Get Up” that his son Jordan was called a racial slur at a Whataburger fast-food restaurant in Arizona.
Generational Ignorance
Jordan Clark is a defensive back at Arizona State. During the incident, a white woman called him and some of his teammates the N-word. Jordan and his teammates, Nolan Matthews and T Lee, all tweeted about their frustration over the incident.
Read please. @Whataburger pic.twitter.com/W6LVSqlm0N
— Jordan Clark (@Jclark21_) June 17, 2020
Arizona State President Michael Crow released a statement after the incident.
“We are aware of the situation our student-athletes reported happening last night (Tuesday) at Whataburger, where they were subjected to racist behavior and name-calling by a customer.
“There is no excuse for this. It is a continuation of gross ignorance, racism, and hatred that permeates facets of our society. We understand that Whataburger has stepped up and requested more information. We strongly encourage Whataburger to fully investigate this situation and assess what steps it must take to deal with customers who exhibit this kind of behavior. It cannot be tolerated.”
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