A football coach from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga was fired for posting a tweet that demeaned Georgia politician-voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. “Congratulations to the state GA and Fat Albert @staceyabrams because you have truly shown America the true works of cheating in an election again!!!” Malone tweeted on Tuesday. “Enjoy the buffet Big Girl! You earned it!!! Hope the money was good, still not governor,” read Chris Malone's tweet, which was later deleted.
Here are the screenshots of Malone's tweet shared by Chattanooga Holler, an independent Tennessee news site.
IN OUR INBOX: We’ve heard that @UTChattanooga assistant football coach, Chris Malone, deleted his account after posting this vile comment. Parents and students are outraged. pic.twitter.com/0bNJ1HYgPx
— Chattanooga Holler (@NoogaHoller) January 7, 2021
The university went ahead to fired Malone, describing his comments as “appalling” and “unacceptable”. The university's athletic director and football coach confirmed that Malone had been fired from his position at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision school, NT Times reported.
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Head coach Rusty Wright called the post “unacceptable” in a statement.
Statements below from head coach Rusty Wright and Director of Athletics Mark Wharton. pic.twitter.com/qRbQgbrvi3
— Chattanooga Football (@GoMocsFB) January 7, 2021
“Our football program has a clear set of standards. Those standards include respecting others. It is a message our players hear daily. It is a standard I will not waiver on. What was posted on social media by a member of my staff is unacceptable and not any part of what I stand for or what Chattanooga Football stands for. Life is bigger than football and as leaders of young men, we have to set that example, first and foremost. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of my staff,” read Wright's statement.
UTC officials have said they are aware of the tweet and are working toward a resolution. https://t.co/0Fvf00OtER
— TFP Sports (@SportsChatt) January 7, 2021
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“Last night, a totally inappropriate social media post by a member of our football staff was brought to my attention,” Athletic Director Mark Wharton said in his statement on Thursday. “The entire post was appalling. The sentiments in that post do not represent the values of our football program, our athletics department or our university. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of the program.”
Malone's post came on the day Georgia voters elected Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to the Senate. After receiving wide backlash, he later deleted his entire Twitter account.
Feature Image Credit: NBC News