Falcons RB Bijan Robinson issues heartfelt apology on social media that has fans talking
After a live TV slip during Thursday night’s comeback win, Atlanta’s star running back owned the mistake quickly, drawing mixed reactions but no league discipline.
Bijan Robinson found himself at the center of an unexpected conversation Friday, less than 24 hours after starring in the Atlanta Falcons’ dramatic 29–28 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale. The 23-year-old running back issued a public apology on X after using an outdated and offensive phrase during a live Amazon Prime broadcast.
What did Bijan Robinson say?
Robinson, who has now rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season, referenced a childhood backyard football game during a postgame interview and used language that is no longer considered acceptable. The clip of him saying “smear the queer” spread rapidly online, drawing criticism and putting pressure on the Falcons’ emerging star to respond. He did so early Friday morning.
Posting on X, Robinson acknowledged the comment as insensitive, said nostalgia was “not an excuse,” and stressed that the phrase did not reflect his beliefs. He also apologized explicitly to those offended and promised to do better going forward.
How did fans respond to Bijan Robinson?
The response from his followers was swift and, in many cases, supportive. Numerous replies waved off the need for an apology altogether – maybe they’ve become accustomed to political offenders not saying sorry – and several called Robinson a “class act” for owning the mistake. Others thought it was a moment to reflect on the change in standards, especially knowing what you can say on a national broadcast. “Unless you’re the president,” some will shout.
There was a smaller group questioning why he felt it was fine to use the phrase in the first place, less willing to allow upbringing as an excuse for adult behavior.
At the time of writing, there’s no news from the NFL about a possible fine or disciplinary action. I’m guessing Robinson himself may self-deselect from post-game interviews for a while.
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