Full Q&A With Blue Jays' Bass Following Anti-LGBTQ+ Post

TORONTO — Blue Jays reliever Anthony Bass apologized May 30 for sharing a video on his Instagram account that suggested a boycott of Target for the company's recent initiatives supporting the LGBTQ community.

The right-hander initially didn't take questions. After requests from the Toronto media, Bass addressed a group of reporters Thursday.

The following is a transcription of that conversation. Some questions and answers were edited for brevity.

---

Reporter: Anthony, [Sportsnet's] Shi [Davidi] wrote a column today telling us that you met with the head of Pride Toronto. What did you want to know or what were your expectations in that meeting? And what did you come out of that meeting thinking?

Bass: One was to inform myself of the Pride community, especially here in Toronto, to know what they're doing. Also getting familiar with [Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste's] story is important to me as well. Before I said anything, I really wanted just to listen to what he had to say. Those were my intentions going into the meeting, and I felt like it was very productive.

Reporter: We didn't get a chance to talk to you when you address this the first time. What were you apologizing for?

Bass: So I apologized for any harm, hurt that I made towards the Pride community. Those were never my intentions from the get-go. And I stand by that.

Reporter: When you posted the video the first time and then deleted it. Can you explain to everybody why you reposted it again?

Bass: Right. I reposted it again because I felt like the video reflected my beliefs, and I took it down because I didn't want it to be a distraction. I didn't want it to obviously hurt anyone. I re-posted because I felt like it was reflective of my personal beliefs.

Reporter: Why do you think the fanbase is outraged with what you did? What do you think they are mad at?

Bass:  I guess not being sensitive to obviously what that community goes through, especially when they're making such a big decision with their life. And that's something that I do apologize for because I have no intentions of ever being hateful or harmful towards any group. I care for all people, and I stand by that.

Reporter: Anthony, has anything in the past week changed how you feel about what is in that video, the actual contents, or messaging in the video?

Bass: The video itself, obviously I took it down. I just felt like it was too much of a distraction. But I stand by my personal beliefs, and everyone's entitled to their personal beliefs, right? But also I mean no harm towards any groups of people. And I felt like taking that down the second time was the right thing to do and not being a distraction on this team. Our job is to win baseball games, and that's my focus.

Reporter: When you apologized to the team, what were some of their reactions, and do you feel like you hurt some of your teammates?

Bass: They were kind of caught off guard, a lot of them, obviously it was the off day so they didn't know what I posted. So I just told them about the post that I made and how I was apologetic for posting that and how I hurt people in the Pride community. They were very receptive of the message. It was very quiet. Not much was needed to say. It was just, more or less, me apologizing for the decision that I made on the off day.

Reporter: When you say your beliefs, are you referring to your religious beliefs?

Bass: Yes, my religious beliefs.

Reporter: When you say the decisions people make about their lives. What are you referring to? What decisions are they making?

Bass: Right so like, obviously making a decision whether they want to come out, right? I don't know. I can imagine it's not an easy one. So being respectful of those that are kind of weighing and deciding what they want to do. Being more sensitive. That's something that I've learned with talking with Sherwin and can continue to grow with and continue to educate myself to be quick to listen, slow to speak.

Reporter: Is it difficult to stay with your beliefs, which you're entitled to, and then not have it conflict with the situation or hurting individuals? Is that a challenge?

Bass: I've learned through this process, especially as I represent an organization in the Toronto Blue Jays, that my focus should have been from the get-go just doing my job and being an example of everyone's decisions and views in life. And through this process, I've learned that. Moving forward, I will definitely know better than to post my personal beliefs on my social media platforms.

Reporter: I think we've heard from a lot of fans who have said that they don't know how they're going to feel when they walk in this weekend or they're not comfortable coming. What would your message be to those fans who have been offended?

Bass: Totally get it, right, after what I said and what I reposted. I just want all the fans to know that baseball is for everyone. I said that last week and I stand by it. And I mean it. This is a welcoming environment and they should feel welcome here, not judged. And that's not something that I do, and I want them to know that I am sorry for my post and they should feel welcome here.

Reporter: Hearing the reactions from the crowds, the booing, how does it affect you? How does it distract the team?

Bass: I expected those after the post I made. But my mindset when I go on the mound is, 'I have a job to do.' I gotta go out there and put up a zero for the team, get back in the dugout. Obviously, I didn't want this to be distracting to my teammates. Baseball is hard enough to bring in something else. And for that reason, that's why I apologize to my teammates, one of the reasons I should say. I hope moving forward in time, hopefully, those boos will subside and hopefully turn to cheers.

Reporter: Can you understand that there will be a portion of the public that won't forgive you for this?

Bass: I totally get that. And I just want them to know that I'm working hard on myself, a lot of self-reflection, working with Sherwin to help understand the Pride community, what they're going through. I think it's really helped me grow through this process so that we continue to work.

Reporter: Was that video something that was shared within a group setting or how did you come about seeing that video?

Bass: I won't throw this person on the bus but someone sent it to me on Instagram, sharing their views of the situation going on in the world. And when I watched it, obviously, it aligned with my personal beliefs. And I thought it was okay to post. That's why I did it. I had no harmful intentions behind it, no hate towards any groups of people. That's not who I am. And I care for everyone.

Reporter: Do you think that video was hateful or no?

Bass: I do not. That's why I posted it originally. When I look back at it, I can see how people can view it that way. And that's why I was apologetic.

Reporter: When you had your meeting with [general manager Ross Atkins] and [manager John Schneider], was that difficult for you?

Bass: Yes, because that's not the type of meeting I want. This is not what I want to be talking about. But obviously, I did it, right? I have to step up to the plate, understand the repercussions for my actions. We spoke at length and went back and forth and kind of expressed my views and feelings and understand I represent an organization, something that obviously I wasn't thinking about right away. I was in the wrong.