Blue Jays’ Anthony Santander Faces Backlash Over Anti-Muslim Instagram Posts

Anthony Santander, the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder, is facing public backlash after reposting anti-Muslim content to his Instagram account in the wake of the U.S. midterm elections — posts he later removed, while the club said individual comments do not represent its values.

CBC Sports, USA Today and the Associated Press covered the episode this week. As of those reports, Santander had not issued a public apology, and no discipline from the Blue Jays or MLB had been announced.

What did Santander post?

According to CBC Sports and USA Today, Santander, 32, shared two Instagram Stories after Tuesday’s midterms. One clip, reshared from another account, targeted Michigan Senator-elect Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and claimed Muslims elected to office were radicals who want to impose Sharia law; USA Today said screenshots showed a caption reading, “America voted for Sharia (law) last night!” A second video alleged Muslims are violent and that Islam is “not peaceful,” both outlets reported.

The Stories were gone by Thursday night. USA Today noted Instagram Stories expire after 24 hours and that some users said the posts were deleted early; screenshots continued to circulate.

How did the Blue Jays respond?

In a statement provided to CBC Sports, USA Today and other outlets on Thursday, a Blue Jays spokesperson said:

“Baseball is for everyone, and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at our ballpark. Individual comments do not represent our organization’s values and beliefs.”

CBC Sports reported that, at the time of its Friday story, the club had not posted further comment on its main social channels or website, and that general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro had not added public remarks beyond that statement.

Why are fans and community voices still upset?

CBC Sports spoke with Muslim Blue Jays fans and Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s former special representative on combating Islamophobia. Elghawaby said deleting the posts “is not enough” and called for a public apology from Santander plus a clearer club stance against Islamophobia. Fan Samrah Sher told CBC she was “deeply hurt and disappointed.” Influencer and longtime Jays supporter Emad Ahmed said the posts felt especially painful given how invested Muslim fans are in the team.

CBC also noted Toronto’s diversity and the club’s history of cultural theme nights, arguing the episode collided with the inclusive image the franchise promotes.

Has the team disciplined players for social media before?

CBC Sports pointed to prior Blue Jays cases: Kevin Pillar was suspended two games in 2017 after an anti-gay slur and apologized publicly; Anthony Bass in 2023 shared a video urging boycotts of companies supporting LGBTQ+ causes, apologized, was directed to sensitivity training and was later released. In Santander’s case, CBC emphasized that — unlike those examples — no public apology from the player had been reported at publication time, and no suspension or release had been announced.

Whether further action comes remains an open question; nothing in the cited reporting confirms a final club or league decision.

Where does Santander stand with the Jays on the field?

USA Today reported Santander did not play for Toronto in the 2026 regular season while dealing with shoulder issues after February surgery. In 2025, the first year of a five-year, $92.5 million deal, a left shoulder subluxation limited him to 54 regular-season games; he appeared in five playoff games before a back injury removed him from the ALCS roster as Toronto reached the World Series and lost to the Dodgers in seven games, USA Today said.

Off-field controversy and on-field availability are separate tracks in the coverage so far.

FAQ