Long snapper Tabor Pepper was shocked and dismayed to be attacked on social media over the weekend after he posted a comment expressing relief that 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was safe after being shot during an attempted robbery.
“I can't believe I had to mute replies to my last tweet.” Pepper posts on social media After sending early messages of support to his teammates.
Pearsall was shot when a 17-year-old attempted to use a gun to rob him of his Rolex, and when he resisted, several shots were fired, one of which struck him in the chest.
“I'm relieved to hear that Ricky's condition is stable.” He was writing early onwhich sparked a barrage of negative reactions.
Social media users appeared to take the post as an opportunity to attack Mr Pepper's political beliefs, with others using it as an opportunity to criticise his selection.
“Why? I didn't like the guy I drafted so no one cares.” One social media user scathingly wrote: In response to that.
“still [a] “Liberal shit?” another replied. According to the Daily Mail.
Pepper appears to have changed settings on the social media platform so that only people named in the post could reply.
The long snapper has been outspoken about politics on social media in the past, criticizing the National Association of Black Journalists, which hosted a discussion with former President Donald Trump, and comments made by popular ESPN host Pat McAfee.
Pepper played in 17 games for the 49ers last season and has been a member of the team for the past four seasons.
Pearsall was released from hospital the day after he was shot on a San Francisco street.
“He, his family and the entire San Francisco 49ers organization would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department, Emergency Medical Services and the doctors and staff at San Francisco General Hospital,” the 49ers said in a statement after the incident.
