A group of Little League players has been accused of racism following an incident with a Black teammate.
Footage captured during the ESPN broadcast of the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, showed a group of white players placing what appeared to be cotton on their Black teammate’s head.
The material appeared to come from the stuffing of stuffed animals.
Watch the video below:
Little League players shove cotton into teammates hair On Live TV — Official claim “There was no ill-intent” pic.twitter.com/mPUsEg3jQj
— Sportsville (@Sportsville_) August 23, 2022
Little League issued a statement responding to the incident.
“After speaking with the team, as well as reviewing photos, multiple players on the Midwest region team were taking part in this while enjoying the game,” the league said.
The statement continues, “As only one player appeared on the broadcast, Little League International understands the actions could be perceived as racially insensitive. We have spoken with the player’s mother and the coaches, who have assured us that there was no ill-intent behind the action shown during the broadcast.”
Read the statement below:
Little League’s Official Statement on the broadcast below: https://t.co/ljgDuh2QaL pic.twitter.com/3LlruOuQRD
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 22, 2022
Still, the video sparked angry reactions from users on Twitter.
One user tweeted, “I’m grateful Jordan Peele gave us ‘the sunken place’ as a digestible metaphor. Because how else would you describe a scene where white kids stuff their Black teammate’s hair and everyone involved — including the mother! — say they’re completely fine.”
I'm grateful Jordan Peele gave us "the sunken place" as a digestible metaphor. Because how else would you describe a scene where white kids stuff their Black teammate's hair and everyone involved — including the mother! — say they're completely fine. pic.twitter.com/j5qiADQUnh https://t.co/YAp2ncvwW7
— Bradford William Davis (@BWDBWDBWD) August 22, 2022
Another tweeted, “This breaks my heart. Look at his face. This is despicable.”
This breaks my heart. Look at his face. This is despicable. https://t.co/eaCTtsvdHz
— Joy Taylor (@JoyTaylorTalks) August 23, 2022
Check out more reactions below:
Little league team puts cotton in their black teammate's hair on live TV https://t.co/aZZxgCzfwY. NOTHING was done, @ESPN ‘s response? Kids being kids. Holy crap, like rape is boys being boys. How disgraceful
— Patricia Padron Fonda (@abuelaofanarchy) August 23, 2022
In other things, someone is now traumatized for life: https://t.co/FNSCIuA5ME
— Will P III (@Dannilus) August 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/sailderton/status/1562130980374298624
If this were my child, heads would roll. #mommabear activated! “Little League Players Shove Cotton Into Black Teammate's Hair; Officials Say "There Was No Ill-Intent" https://t.co/xAX0BrIiUh
— Maria White Tillman (@NewsMariaWT) August 23, 2022
TMZ reported that the players were attempting to mimic another player who gained fame for a white hairstyle.