Image being held accountable for things you did as a 15-year-old high school student, but that’s where we are in today’s brave new social media-dominated world.
University of Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Award Saturday night but he did not have much time to celebrate before USA Today ran an article detailing several homophobic tweets he sent as a young teenager.
Instead of celebrating a monumental achievement, Murray, now 21-years-old, was sacked by the paper and forced to apologize — all of which raises the question of just how long was USA Today sitting on the story.
“I apologize for the tweets that have come to light tonight from when I was 14 and 15,” the player tweeted at 3:00 a.m. “I used a poor choice of word that doesn’t reflect who I am or what I believe. I did not intend to single out any individual or group.”
I apologize for the tweets that have come to light tonight from when I was 14 and 15. I used a poor choice of word that doesn’t reflect who I am or what I believe. I did not intend to single out any individual or group.
— Kyler Murray (@K1) December 9, 2018
In several tweets that were deleted after the article came out, Murray used the term “queer” in razzing friends online. USA Today exposed the ill-advised tweets mere hours after he won college football’s most prestigious award.
“Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray had a Saturday to remember. But the Oklahoma quarterback’s memorable night also helped resurface social media’s memory of several homophobic tweets more than six years old,” the paper reported.
As for who the person he is, Murray’s acceptance speech shows a soft-spoken young man who spoke of a higher power looking down on him and became emotional while thanking his head coach, who was at the award ceremony.
Suffice it to say, social media was not pleased with the newspaper’s efforts.
A 15 or 16 year old kid’s Tweets aren’t a story. What should be a story? The loser adults spending hours combing through old teenager Tweets to try and ruin someone on the night of their biggest accomplishment. Congrats to Kyler Murray on the Heisman.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 9, 2018
Come on pic.twitter.com/iLjtzMexBp
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) December 9, 2018
Someone just made this point (I don’t remember who), that our garbage media waits until someone accomplishes something great, like a life long dream, then drags this stuff out. They’re a vipers nest. Treat them that way. https://t.co/DHCs5cxRhx
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 9, 2018
The real question is will this new “standard” established by the media apply to ALL — to include liberal darlings like Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman, as a social media user asked.
Not sure, but this effort by USA Today serves as yet another reason so many Americans have lost faith in the press.
Here’s a sampling of other responses from Twitter
Judging people's character in adulthood by what they post on social media at the age of **15** is beyond moronic; it's oppressive. I'm so glad the internet didn't exist to permanently record my every utterance in adolescence https://t.co/l9R0tO7rfE
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 9, 2018
Dragging out tweets from a 15 year old Kyler Murray?
This is where we are at now?
I would LOVE to be able to put these people digging this stuff up, under a microscope & put all their mistakes on display.
He was 15. Kids say stupid shit. End of story. https://t.co/8bjSoprGpu
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) December 9, 2018
Breaking: former first grade classmates say Kyler Murray referred to girls as "stupid" and "gross"
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 9, 2018
“Area sports writer who always got picked last when choosing sides in gym class still trying to get even.”
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) December 9, 2018
Great reporting @USATODAY on things said when we’re 14. This is an example of why people hate the Press in this country.
— chris (@Hyguy66) December 9, 2018
Dont foget @chelseahandler @amyschumer and @SarahKSilverman. Theyre bringing back some old school themselves. Yet another round of 1st amendment for me but not for thee.
— Mindhunter ن???? (@Fates_Finger) December 9, 2018
Really you’re only good for wrapping fish in. #trash
— Jim Verdi (@jjverdi) December 9, 2018
Didn’t think you could sink lower than creepy allegations about Brett Kavanaugh coaching girl’s basketball. I’m almost impressed.
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) December 9, 2018
Your timing is uncanny. Just happened to be checking out what a 15 year old said 6 years ago huh? #journalismisdead
— Gary S. Willie (@GarySWillie) December 9, 2018
Instead of using this young man’s accomplishments and story as inspiration for other young athletes, you attempt to ruin him by focusing on a small mistake he made as a teenager on social media. This is why people feel like the media is their enemy.
— fresh (@dfresh2001) December 9, 2018
I don’t know if the media is the enemy of the people but it’s safe to say the media is not a friend of the people. This kid was 15/16 when the tweets were made. Think of all the dumb/insensitive shit you said when you were 15/16. Media stoked Twitter outrage mobs are the worst.
— Lois Cayce (@LBC1983) December 9, 2018
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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