Dallas Cowboys player Micah Parsons has come under fire after criticizing the recent release of WNBA player Brittney Griner from Russia.
Griner’s release from Russia was announced on Thursday in a prisoner exchange the Biden administration made one-for-one with Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer who had been held in Illinois. The football star reacted to the news on social media by claiming that “we left a Marine,” an apparent reference to retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who is still being held in Russia.
“Wait nah!!” Parsons wrote on Twitter. “We left a marine?!! Hell nah.”
GRINER SWAP LEAVING PAUL WHELAN BEHIND IS A ‘CATASTROPHE’ FOR HIM, BROTHER SAYS
Wait nah!! We left a marine?!! Hell nah https://t.co/3AeQx8K9OZ
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 8, 2022
Parsons also criticized President Joe Biden on social media, writing in a since-deleted tweet that “we still not voting for you” when the president announced Griner was making her way home to the U.S.
Who reprimanded Micah Parsons for wrongthink? pic.twitter.com/uPR02KZRvS
— Eduardo Neret (@eduneret) December 8, 2022
Shortly after, Parsons issued an apology for his deleted tweet, clarifying that he was glad that Griner was coming home but adding that he has family “who have served” and thought it is “crazy” that Whelan is not coming home as well. He added that he is “the furthest thing” from a supporter of former President Donald Trump but that he is not a fan of Biden either.
My last tweet was no shot at Brittney Griner. I’m super happy she’s back home as she should be. I just have family who have served and it’s crazy to me the President wouldn’t bring him home too. I’m the furthest thing from a trump supporter but I’m not a fan of Biden either.
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 8, 2022
“Just spoke to some people that I respect and trust,” Parsons wrote in another statement. “I should have been more educated on the topic and not tweeted out of emotion for my family and other who have served. For that I apologize. Also if what I’m told about the attempts to bring Ret Marine Paul Whelan home are true then the best outcome was accomplished. I pray Mr. Whelan comes home but am extremely happy for Brittney and her family. I am not too prideful to admit when I’ve made a mistake.”
Just spoke to some people that I respect and trust. I should have been more educated on the topic and not tweeted out of emotion for my family and other who have served. For that I apologize. Also if what I’m told about the attempts to bring Ret Marine Paul Whelan home are true
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 8, 2022
The phrase “MAGA Parsons” began to trend on social media in response to his comments on the Griner situation.
Mr Maga Parsons, you did no research at all and started bashing someone being released from a foreign prison over a vape.
The marine you referenced was a spy and caught in 2018, 4 years ago.
Where was all this concern? Fox News bout to use your ignorance to rally the ignorant. https://t.co/kqU13OVFTG
— ???? (@Mrnotthatfamous) December 8, 2022
Micah after being forced to make an apology tweet pic.twitter.com/JXvUiZWmaT
— Jerry Jones Burner ✭ (@Dallas_Burner) December 8, 2022
Micah Parsons when he saw Brittany Griner coming home: pic.twitter.com/My3ftit1Ra
— Colb (@___Colb___) December 8, 2022
there’s a lot micah parsons can teach about being an elite defensive player, but there’s also a lot micah parsons has yet to learn about international politics and context https://t.co/BGp3jwppxU
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) December 8, 2022
Quick someone ask Micah what he thinks of vaccines https://t.co/4YbzNbCQTu
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) December 8, 2022
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Biden has insisted he and his aides have “not forgotten about Paul Whelan” and was adamant the Griner framework was not a “choice” between her and the former Marine.
