This past Saturday, the former Atlanta Braves third baseman tweeted out what he intended to be a joke about illegal immigrants:
Y'all think if they took all them gators they trap in Fla and La and put them in the Rio Grande, it wud stop the illegals from crossing? Jk
— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) June 8, 2013
And quickly found himself in hot water:
Not only is @RealCJ10 one of the "ignorant, misinformed people" he was complaining about on Twitter, he's obviously RACIST too. @braves
— La (@LaPinetina) June 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/ROFLwithBJ/status/343813719295401985
@RealCJ10 you're a disgrace as a player and as a human being. @ESPN_Beisbol @MLB @MLBNetwork @MLB_PR @MLBONFOX @MLB_PLAYERS
— Andres (@mr_drey) June 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/DaveRogersOTC/status/344165397538414592
@RealCJ10 Too bad you got outed as a racist prick eh?
— Very far away from you ? (@MalarkeyStan) June 10, 2013
@RealCJ10 eat a dick along with everyone that thought your dumb ass joke was funny.
— ISRAEL (@MrIzReal) June 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/MindofStan/status/344075098107572224
https://twitter.com/bigbarcelona23/status/344143156037705730
https://twitter.com/XikanoRaider/status/344123155465506817
https://twitter.com/bigbarcelona23/status/344141890217725952
Yesterday, Jones took to Twitter to apologize:
I realize that my tweet yest was offensive and distasteful. An attempt at humor was a terrible mistake. Please accept my heartfelt apology!
— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) June 9, 2013
But was that the right move? Many people feel that his only crime was being politically incorrect in a world increasingly bent on political correctness and that he shouldn’t cave to pressure:
Recommended
@RealCJ10 political correctness is anti-american, puts a muzzle on freedom of speech. No apology needed.
— PowerAesthetics byCW (@codydwilburn) June 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/VanGoGoGirly/status/343872037204410368
https://twitter.com/policy140/status/344171382181085184
@RealCJ10 there was nothing wrong with your tweet. U pussed out. Disappointed!
— Brent Wilson (@LandRoverBrent) June 10, 2013
@RealCJ10 Come on-chip… No apology needed… People need to grow up and grow a pair and realized that humor is naturally funny…
— Daniel Jones (@Danieljones_19) June 10, 2013
@RealCJ10 I thought it was a good idea….offensive? Yes, crossing illegally is offensive to US law!
— That Guy! (@Esimm) June 10, 2013
@RealCJ10 No worries, Chip. Anybody who didn't understand it was a joke is just looking to drag you down.
— kIRbY (@Nibraybirk) June 10, 2013
Chipper Jones said nothing offensive…you are an "illegal" if you swim across the river
— Justin Simpson (@BattleRedRaider) June 10, 2013
I thought @RealCJ10 tweet bout the gators was funny and was a JOKE!!!! #GrowUp America!! He shouldn't have to apologize for a lil joke! #SMH
— Chris Whitley (@chriswhit85) June 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/Yeshuaspoke/status/344151204730920960
@RealCJ10 @jt_dudenhoffer Why do people connect illegal immigration with racism? Immigration is about proper paperwork or lack of.
— Rose Marie Rouse (@bluegrassrose) June 10, 2013
@bluegrassrose @RealCJ10 Immigration is about the sovereignty of the United States. The knee-jerk' cry of racism is ridiculous…
— J.T. Dudenhoffer (@jt_dudenhoffer) June 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/Scott_Ingersoll/status/344179044813766656
@RealCJ10 I wish you wouldn't have apologized. That was obviously a joke. You even put jk. People are too uptight.
— Braque Hildreth (@braque6) June 10, 2013
@RealCJ10 just read all the replies to your tweet and they're hilarious; you just can't joke on twitter anymore without being racist
— Chipper Jones fan (@Chipper_Fan_1) June 10, 2013
@RealCJ10 No need to apologize Be yourself. It seem there are people who are always looking for reasons to be offended
— VManstuff (@VManstuff) June 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/joesimonetti/status/344087896900382720
What do you think, Twitchy readers?