NFL quarterback Drew Brees has apologised for "insensitive" comments made regarding kneeling protests during the national anthem that sparked a furious backlash on social media, accepting that they "completely missed the mark".
With protests ongoing across America following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis last week, New Orleans Saints stalwart Brees has been the subject of strong criticism after answering a question about players kneeling again when the NFL season restarts by saying that he would "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country".
Brees' own team-mates - including Michael Thomas, Malcolm Jenkins and Emmanuel Sanders - were among those to speak out, while NBA superstar LeBron James hit back on Twitter, claiming that the 41-year-old still did not understand the intentions behind Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
Brees later clarified in a statement given to ESPN that he stood with his team-mates in regards to "fighting for racial equality and justice" and also his "grandfathers who risked their lives for this country and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis".
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, he issued a lengthy apology to "friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone I hurt with my comments", with Brees adding that it "broke his heart" to "know the pain" he had caused.
He said: "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."
