Tiger Woods Criticized for Not Toeing the Black Lives Matter Line in George Floyd Response
Tiger Woods was quickly criticized after he broke his silence about the death of George Floyd and released a statement Monday evening on Twitter.
The 44-year-old golfer said that his “heart goes out to George Floyd, his loved ones and all of us who are hurting right now.
“I have always had the utmost respect for our law enforcement,” Woods said.
“They train so diligently to understand how, when and where to use force.”
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 2, 2020
He added that he learned from the Los Angeles riots in 1992 that education is the best way to move forward.
“We can make our points without burning the very neighborhoods that we live in,” Woods wrote.
“I hope that through constructive, honest conversations we can build a safer, unified society.”
Fans and other Twitter users were quick to criticize his statement.
“Soft. You golf with the guy who is declaring war on his citizens for standing up for a cause,” one user wrote. “The @PGATOUR should be ashamed as well for promoting his golf courses.”
Soft. You golf with the guy who is declaring war on his citizens for standing up for a cause. The @PGATOUR should be ashamed as well for promoting his golf courses.
— CMB (@corymichael72) June 2, 2020
Another added: “As a fan this statement is very disappointing. How can we have an honest conversation when you’re not even being honest.”
As a fan this statement is very disappointing. How can we have an honest conversation when you’re not even being honest.
— Michele Kara Moran (@MicheleKaraMor1) June 2, 2020
Other users expressed similar sentiments:
Tiger Woods was always a screwball and a liar (just ask the family he spent his adult life womanizing around) but now you can add gutless WORM to the list. No surprises there.
And no green jacket can cover up that. https://t.co/CZhsZewQnK— Black Authority (@TheBlackChannel) June 2, 2020
I love you, Brother, but you’ve got to do better than this.
You just said absolutely nothing on the official letterhead.
Hopefully, this was someone who works for you… not you.
— Thespis Brown (@edwinleegibson) June 2, 2020
Weak and spineless statement, Tiger.
— I ❤️ Danes (@DeutscheDogges) June 2, 2020
Woods joined the growing list of athletes who have expressed their thoughts on Floyd’s death and the protests.
“I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” Michael Jordan said in a statement.
“Every one of us needs to be part of the solution, and we must work together to ensure justice for all.”
Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James have also released statements or written about the situation.
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