Patriots player unleashes anti-gay rant defending Jaden Ivey

Jaden Ivey has been cut by the Chicago Bulls for his anti-gay, anti-Pride social media rant the team deemed “detrimental.” Ivey followed up on his screed saying he believes in “the truth,” which apparently is that Pride is “unrighteous” and shouldn’t be supported by the NBA.

Now the conversation about anti-gay religious beliefs, and whether athletes should be let go by teams for expressing said beliefs, is spilling out across the sports world.

It didn’t take long for the conversation to spread to the NFL, and namely the New England Patriots.

Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson wasted no time jumping into the fray, sharing his support for Ivey, elevating Ivey to legend status and seemingly supporting Ivey’s anti-gay position about celebrating LGBTQ Pride.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Henderson wrote, citing a Bible verse in the New Testament Book of Matthew.

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Some people on X were quick to respond, asking why Henderson would weigh in now but was silent when a teammate was charged with a domestic strangulation.

Henderson also went full-on anti-gay, disparaging gay men and talking about demons, sin and the need to “repent.”

Asked about it at the NFL Annual Meeting, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel responded to a question about Henderson’s support of Ivey.

“I want them to be able to express what they believe in their heard and their mind,” Vrabel said. “But also, I want to make sure they’re educated. We want to be inclusive. Everything we want to do wants to provide an environment for people to feel comfortable, but also share their person beliefs.

“But also, we represent the team and we represent the organization.

That New England Patriots team and organization have been incredibly pro-LGBTQ for years. The team signed onto an amicus brief supporting same-sex marriage, and team owner Robert Kraft has been vocal about his support for gay people, including showing up to the Gay Bowl and also simply stopping by the gay flag football league’s games in Boston.

Mike Vrabel has also demonstrated strong support for gay people. His former teammate with the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, Ryan O’Callaghan, has talked about the support Vrabel showed him when he came out as gay.

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Now the Patriots and Vrabel will have to choose whether Henderson’s cruel, misguided anti-gay posts are “detrimental to the team,” and whether he should be sticking around Foxboro or get some, as Vrabel put it, “education.”

In analyzing how some Christian athletes talk publicly about their personal religious beliefs, Emanuel Acho put it perfectly. Acho, a devout Christian and former NFL player, explained the consequences of just saying whatever is on your mind, and doing so while rehabbing from an injury.

“From a sports perspective,” Acho explained, channeling the thoughts of people in the front office of the Bulls or any pro teamk, “we do not want to hear you more than we see you.”

This saga is only beginning.

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