The CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos cut running back Christion Jones on Sunday, a day after the former Alabama receiver posted a series of homophobic comments on Twitter.
Jones, 27, fired off several anti-gay tweets Saturday, writing in one, “Man ain’t suppose to be with a man. A women [sic] is not suppose to be with another women.” He doubled down on his point of view despite significant backlash before eventually losing his spot on the Eskimos after his first season with the organization.
“They trying to get me fired now!!!” said Jones, who went undrafted out of Alabama in 2015 and was released by the Miami Dolphins in 2015 and ’16 before playing in the CFL. “A black man giving his opinion on Twitter is sickening for many.
“People understand that I don’t care about getting fired standing on what I stand on. An opinion is obligated.”
The Eskimos issues a statement while announcing Jones’ release.
“We stand by the LGBTQ+ community and firmly condemn the language used by Christion Jones,” the statement read. “There is no place for such commentary on our team. Jones has been released from the roster.”
The league echoed the Eskimos’ sentiment.
“We in the CFL hold high the Diversity Is Strength banner,” the CFL’s statement said. “Our league makes no claim on perfection but it does strive to be inclusive, to accept and indeed celebrate our differences, and to respect and honor human rights. There is no place in our league for commentary that disparages people on the basis of their religion, race, gender or sexual orientation.
“As Pride Month continues, we stand with the LGBTQ+ community. We all need to say no to hate and yes to love.”
After strongly defending his initial comments, Jones eventually said he was sorry.
“My words were deeply hurtful, painful and served zero purpose,” said Jones, who played for Alabama from 2011 to 2014. “I added to the struggle of a community, to live a life free of oppression of any kind. I sincerely apologize. I was wrong.”