Former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm admitted to and issued an apology for using the term “elite white people” in a text exchange about guns with a female childhood friend in March 2019. The exchange was posted Thursday on Twitter.
The woman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she chose to post the exchange now in light of the current social climate. The woman, who asked not to be identified but said she has known Fromm since the eighth grade in Warner Robins, told the AJC: “I posted it in regards with the Black Lives Matter movement. Part of that movement allocates certain responsibilities to specifically white people; including to hold people who make racist comments accountable. Often times no one speaks out against those in positions such that he is. But because his career is dependent on black people – not only has he been completely silent during the movement, but he has also contributed to the pain and hurt of black people’s lives by making such a statement.”
Fromm, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round in April, posted his apology on Twitter and said he spoke to teammates and coaches Thursday.
Fromm wrote: “I’m extremely sorry that I chose to use the words ‘elite white people’ in a text message conversation. Although I never meant to imply that I am an ‘elite white person,’ as stated later in the conversation, there is no excuse for that word choice and sentiment. While it was poor, my heart is not. Now, more than ever, is the time for support and togetherness and I stand against racism 100%. I promise to commit myself to being a part of the solution in this country. I addressed by teammates and coaches in a team meeting today and I hope they see this incident is not representative of the person I am. Again, I’m truly sorry for my words and actions and humbly ask for forgiveness.”
Following his public apology, the woman told the AJC: “I think it’s good that he acknowledged and apologized for his actions. We need to hold everyone to a standard of zero tolerance of racism. Regardless of who they are.”
The original exchange began with Fromm responding to a question regarding his position on guns.
“No guns are good.
“They need to let me get suppressors.
“Just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them hahaha.”
Fromm’s love of outdoors sports was well-documented in his days at Georgia.
The opinions of Fromm started boiling on Twitter, with several users expressing dismay.
In a second text exchange — since deleted — the poster was asked to take down her original tweet because it could affect Fromm’s status with the Bills.
“Hey Jake just called me 3 times about what you put on Twitter. ... The [Bills] are talking about dropping him right now.”
The poster said it took her some time to build up the courage to go public with the exchange.
She told the AJC: “If that one statement took me a year to build up the courage to bring attention to, how many more alike statements that have been made and disregarded by other people who allow such hate to be openly accepted?”
Fromm and his agent did not respond to requests for comment.
Leslie Frazier, Bills assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, addressed the situation.
“Jake was, I think, very sincere in his apology,” Frazier said in a video conference call. “We have a strong culture on our team. Those guys are going to sift through what is real and what is not real. We haven’t been around Jake and haven’t had time to spend much time with him because of the virtual offseason. He is a teammate. I think over time, he will gain their trust.
“All of us, make mistakes and he acknowledge it, I made a mistake. There are a number of us who can say the same thing, especially in our youth, have made some mistakes. You move on from it. You grow from it. That’s what we are going to try to do as a team, grow from it. I know Jake wants to grow from it as well.”
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