Drew Brees posts lengthy apology over protest comments: 'I should do less talking and more listening'

"In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that (...)

Drew Brees issued a lengthy apology on Thursday morning to his Instagram, in a caption that accompanied a photo of a white and black hand clasped together.

Brees came under fire on Wednesday for an interview he gave in which he was asked about protests by NFL players who previously took a knee during the national anthem to try and raise awareness about police brutality against black people. Brees answered: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”

Numerous NFL players spoke out, including several of Brees’ Saints teammates, as well as LeBron James and enraged New Orleans citizens.

In his apology, Brees said that “in an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag,” he had made “comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark,” adding that his words lacked “awareness and any type of compassion or empathy.”

In a not so great part of the apology, Brees writes: “those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that somehow I am an enemy.” The sentence somehow suggests the words have a mind of their own, but Brees said the words. They didn’t say themselves.

He then adds: “I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality and support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference.”

The full apology reads:

I would like to apologize to my friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone I hurt with my comments yesterday. In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused.

In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country. They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that somehow I am an enemy. This could not be further from the truth, and is not an accurate reflection of my heart or my character.

This is where I stand:

I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality and support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference.

I condemn the years of oppression that have taken place throughout our black communities and still exists today.

I acknowledge that we as Americans, including myself, have not done enough to fight for that equality or to truly understand the struggles and plight of the black community.

I recognize that I am part of the solution and can be a leader for the black community in this movement.

I will never know what it’s like to be a black man or raise black children in America but I will work every day to put myself in those shoes and fight for what is right.

I have ALWAYS been an ally, never an enemy.

I am sick about the way my comments were perceived yesterday, but I take full responsibility and accountability. I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening…and when the black community is talking about their pain, we all need to listen.

For that, I am very sorry and I ask your forgiveness.