American tennis star Taylor Fritz has found himself embroiled in controversy after it was noticed that he had apparently endorsed a homophobic comment on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Ranked as high as No. 5 in singles worldwide by the Association of Tennis Professionals, 26-year-old Fritz was quick to refute claims that his ‘like’ on a tweet was intentional. The tweet in question was a reply to a post by the contentious US martial artist Sean Strickland, who had criticised Pride month.
On 13 February 2024, Strickland made a derogatory comment about Pride month, questioning its significance. In response, entrepreneur Nina Yamini, related to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, critiqued the notion, suggesting a metaphorical reset by the founding fathers. Fritz’s interaction with Yamini’s tweet, indicating approval, was caught and shared by user @melanie_lautrup, drawing significant attention and backlash online.
Fritz addressed the controversy directly, clarifying on X that his ‘like’ was accidental and not a reflection of his values, especially regarding LGBTQ+ support.
He explained the mishap occurred while browsing Strickland’s profile amidst recent news coverage due to Strickland’s anti-LGBTQ+ comments before his fight against Dricus Du Plessis, which he lost. Strickland had previously made homophobic remarks, further scrutinised during a pre-fight media engagement.
The tennis player’s apology received mixed reactions, with some sceptical of his intent and others, including LGBTQ+ individuals, offering support and urging further advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
