Jake Fromm apologizes after 2019 ‘elite white people’ comment goes viral on Twitter
A series of text messages from former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm circulated on Twitter on Thursday afternoon. In a conversation with a longtime friend, who sent the messages under the @ashleymp20 social media handle, Fromm used the term “elite white people.”
Fromm apologized for his comments, which were communicated in March 2019.
“I am extremely sorry,” Fromm wrote in a Twitter post. “... There’s no excuse for that word choice and sentiment.”
In those original comments, made on the subject of guns, he said to “just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”
The Houston County High School star was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of April’s NFL Draft.
Fromm left Georgia after his junior season. He finished fourth in school history in passing yards (8,224), second in touchdowns (78), fourth in completions (621) and fifth in attempts (982). His career completion percentage of 63.2 ranks third in school history.
Fromm’s exchange of text messages involved a discussion around guns, and the Warner Robins native stated his support for Second Amendment rights. He then expressed a desire for suppressors but wanted them to be “very expensive so only elite white people can get them.”
Fromm hadn’t posted on social media through the racial unrest that has swept across the nation with the officer-involved death of George Floyd. The person who chose to release these tweets had been friends with Fromm since the eighth grade, she told The Telegraph, and they remained close for a period of time while students at Georgia.
“I’m seeing and feeling the black lives matter movement,” said the woman releasing the messages, who requested “as much anonymity as possible. I know that part of my job is to hold racists accountable, despite who they are.”
The Telegraph reached out to Fromm’s representation, Jimmy Sexton at Creative Artists Agency. Sexton didn’t reply with immediate comment.
Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was asked by reporters about Fromm’s comment in a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon.
“Jake seemed very sincere in his apology,” Frazier said. “We have a very strong culture on our team. Those guys are going to be able to sift through what is real and what isn’t real.”
The Bills released a statement later in the day.
“Earlier today, we became aware of comments made in a text message conversation involving Jake Fromm in 2019. He was wrong and he admitted it to us. We don’t condone what he said. Jake was honest and forthcoming to us about the text exchange,” the statement read. “He asked for an opportunity to address and apologize to his teammates and coaches today in a team meeting, which he did. We will continue to work with Jake on the responsibilities of being a Buffalo Bill on and off the field.”
The party that released the text messages took issue with Fromm’s comments following the escalated discussion around racial divide in America.
“He has been completely silent despite his career being built off of black people,” she said in an exchange of messages with The Telegraph. “It’s about what he does behind closed doors in this situation.”
Fromm became a trending topic on social media Thursday, which led to his released statement. Fromm said he addressed the issues with Bills’ teammates and coaches prior to releasing the apology.
“Now, more than ever, is the time for support and togetherness. I stand against racism 100%,” Fromm wrote. “I promise to commit myself to being part of the solution in this country.
Fromm, throughout his career at Georgia, has worked with teammates who are of different races and carry diverse backgrounds. He has received support for his leadership and building unity among his teammates.
“Naw my boy,” Georgia defensive back Divaad Wilson tweeted in response to Fromm’s apology. “You should’ve just kept your thoughts to yourself.”
“This is showing everybody’s TRUE side,” former Georgia wide receiver Terry Godwin tweeted. “Even from a guy like Drew Brees and Georgia very own Jake Fromm. I’ve lost all respect for both of these people. #blm.”
His former high school head coach, Von Lassiter, backed Fromm from his time leading the former heralded quarterback at Houston County.
“We didn’t let our differences of race, socioeconomics, religion or anything else come between us (at Houston County),” Lassiter told The Telegraph. “Jake helped establish and contributed to our family culture. So often Jake, his brothers, and his parents opened their house and their lives to our teammates. Not just black, not just white, but any and all that wanted or needed a place to hang out. That was the culture all of our players had.”
Fromm’s full statement from Thursday:
“I am extremely sorry that I chose to use the words ‘elite white people’ in a text message conversation. Although I never meant to imply that I am an ‘elite white person,’ as stated later in the conversation, there’s no excuse for that word choice and sentiment. While it was poor, my heart is not. Now, more than ever, is the time for support and togetherness and I stand against racism 100%. I promise to commit myself to being a part of the solution in this country. I addressed my teammates and coaches in a team meeting today and I hope they see this incident is not representative of the person I am. Again, I’m truly sorry for my words and actions and humbly ask for forgiveness.”
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 2:26 PM.