After Tuesday night's U.S. midterm elections, Toronto Blue Jays player Anthony Santander shared Islamophobic videos on his Instagram Stories and later deleted them. A team spokesperson said baseball is for everyone and that individual comments do not represent the organization's values.
After Tuesday night's United States midterm elections, Toronto Blue Jays player Anthony Santander shared a series of Islamophobic videos to his Instagram Stories. One clip featured a preacher making sweeping negative claims about Islam and Muslims. Santander, 32, later deleted the content. He has since removed both videos from his Instagram story, and two post-midterm clips were deleted after backlash.
Team response
A Toronto Blue Jays spokesperson said baseball is for everyone and that the team has created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at its ballpark. The spokesperson added that individual comments do not represent the organization's values and beliefs. The statement was given to Offside and to CTV News. The team responded to the controversy without apology or discipline.
Santander's situation with the team
Santander, a 32-year-old Venezuelan, missed the entire 2026 season with a shoulder injury. He has appeared in just 54 games for the Blue Jays since signing a five-year, $92.5-million contract ahead of the 2025 season. He has three years and over $57 million remaining on his heavily deferred contract.
