USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert apologized Thursday for “immature” social media posts that sparked the ire of fans and U.S. legend Megan Rapinoe.
Albert, Paris St. Germain’s 20-year-old rising star, had been slammed after shares and reposts on her TikTok account of content deemed anti-LGBTQ+.
She also “liked” a post poking fun at Rapinoe’s anguished reaction to the Achilles injury she suffered in her final club match last November before retiring.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media,” Albert said in an Instagram post. “Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent.
“I’m really disappointed in myself and I am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended.
“I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields.”
Rapinoe, whose partner is retired U.S. basketball star Sue Bird, has been outspoken in her support of LGBTQ+ causes and posted a message on her Instagram account that appeared to be aimed at Albert.
“For people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’ I would just ask one question, are you making any type of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone?” Rapinoe wrote. “Because if you aren’t, all you believe in is hate. And Kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake, TF up!”
Rapinoe signed her message, “Yours Truly, #15,” using the U.S. women’s national team jersey number she wore for many years.
It was also the same number worn by Albert earlier this month in the Concacaf W Gold Cup, which was won by the United States.
Rapinoe closed her post with a message to transgender supporters, saying, “For all my trans homie enduring this horrific treatment day in and day out I see you and hear you and I am WITH YOU.”
Albert made her U.S. national team debut in a friendly against China last December and was in the starting 11 for the first time last month in a group stage match against Dominican Republic in the Women’s Gold Cup.
On Tuesday, Albert was among 23 players selected for the US roster for the She Believes Cup to be played against Japan, Canada and Brazil next month in Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio.
The Americans will face Japan in an April 6 semifinal in Atlanta.
On Thursday, Albert scored a golazo as PSG defeated Hacken 3-0 in Paris to qualify for the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League, where it will face Lyon.
bb/dj
© Agence France-Presse
Didn’t see it, But, High Likelihood she will be Dropped.
Didn’t she see what happened to the Austrian guys just Last Week.
You got to Live and Let Live nowadays…
Don’t even be Joking about Race and Sexuality.
Santi , I didn’t read her post but the point is she ,at least, has enough character to admit she said something that could possible hurt others. But what I find so interesting that the other side, i.e. Rapinho will never apoligize for any of the ‘in your face’ garbage throughout the years that likewise could have hurt others
That is the thing that disturbes me the Most from the Woke ..
They are so “Right”All the Time… And IN Your Face about it…
Why do they have to be so Divisive.???… Yes, Kneeling Down during The National Anthem IS DIVISIVE.!!!
All protests are divisive to some extent. If not nobody would notice the protest.
Exactly, that’s kind of the point.
What Good Teammate, would INTENTIONALLY, Bring a Divisive “External” Issue into a TEAM Sport, and Divide the Locker Room.???
What about inclusivity? Sure, her comments were inappropriate and offensive but isn’t that what inclusivity is? Aren’t all points of view acceptable?
Are you serious? Inclusive means “allowing and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability).” Points of view are thoughts. Inclusive describes actions.
She was not expressing a point of view. She was approving “offensive, insensitive and hurtful” posts. Bullying is not expressing a point of view.
Bob, I realize your Legal mind sees, Inclusion, from a “Legalistic” Stand Point … Most of us see it as Giving Positions to people, who don’t deserve it, over those that due, based on thei Sexuality or Race… I like the SCOTUS decision… “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating based on race,”
I disagree. We need to stop pretending skin color denotes “races”. Cultural differences, sure, but not “race”. Our legal language for civil rights is from the early 1960s and outdated a generation ago. Calling it skin color discrimination makes clear that race is a cultural fiction.
Language shapes how people think. Right now our statutes legitimize thinking that humanity is divided into races by skin color.
PS: The definition I used is not a legal definition. It is the common American definition from Websters.
I think I agree with you on the Skin Color, as it is our DNA that denotes our Race.
Hopefully; All should Not be “judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
I hope Rapinoe tried to reach out to her first, as a former teammate and more experienced pro, to help her see the mistake she made, but I fear she chose to take the public humiliation approach instead. That’s a problem.
Funny, that I have NOT Heard Peep about Emma Hayes saying that Same-Sex Couples in the Locker Room IS a Problem.???
Yeah, it’s easy to go after the 20-year-old but not so easy to go after the new coach.
Albert is young, and I’m guessing she was raised in an environment where the views she expressed were broadly approved, so her actions are understandable. But Rapinoe was right to call her out; public posts call for a public response. And making fun of a teammate’s injury?
Albert was right to apologize, and it sounds genuine. I hope she can learn from this and we can all move on.
Kent, she grew up playing soccer and is now at a high level – she will know full well about the issues she commented on – why she does it? Fuggetabout sensitivity or inclusiveness – just stupid. The same for Horan. Now you see why this gen has its challenges – they are not clever. Everyone knows the game comes first – politics later. Say what you want about Rapinoe – she won and ton – before she took the stands she’s known for. She kept her mouth shut. She had plenty to say – just put the game first. Later that changed – but – she kept on impacting games to win – she learned to walk the wire. Legend. Horan and Albert – at this rate – will never fill her shoes on the pitch.