This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
June 4, 2020, marked a day of intense backlash against NFL quarterback Drew Brees after he expressed his disapproval of kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality.
During an interview with Yahoo Finance, Brees stated, 'I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.' He added, 'I think what you do by standing there and showing respect to the flag with your hand over your heart, is it shows unity.'
However, his comments sparked outrage, particularly in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Many felt that Brees' stance was tone-deaf and insensitive to the struggles faced by African-Americans.
By Thursday morning, Brees had taken to Instagram to apologize for his comments, stating that they were 'insensitive' and 'missed the mark.'
He acknowledged that his words had caused harm and said, 'I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening.' Brees expressed his support for the African-American community in their fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality.
