Toronto Blue Jays slugger Anthony Santander is facing criticism for social media posts attacking Islam and senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed after his victory in Michigan.
The 32-year-old former All-Star from Venezuela shared two memes on Instagram: One picturing El-Sayed alongside text reading ‘AMERICA VOTED FOR SHARIA LAST NIGHT’ and another with the caption ‘ISLAM IS NOT PEACEFUL.’
El-Sayed, a 42-year-old Sunni resident of the Detroit suburbs, has repeatedly pushed back against suggestions he’d somehow bring about Sharia law, which is the religious framework that guides the Islamic world. Speaking to Fox News before his electoral win, El-Sayed insisted ‘nobody is trying to push Sharia law on anyone else, just like I hope nobody is trying to push [Catholic] canon law on anybody else, because we live in an America where you should have the freedom of your religion.’
On Thursday, the Blue Jays released a statement distancing the organization from Santander’s social media posts.
‘Baseball is for everyone and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at our ballpark,’ the statement read. ‘Individual comments do not represent our organization’s values and beliefs.’
Michigan’s Muslim population is sizeable at around 250,000, but still far smaller than neighboring Ontario, which has more than 1 million followers of Islam.
Toronto Blue Jays slugger Anthony Santander (pictured) is facing criticism for social media posts attacking Islam and senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed after his victory in Michigan
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at an election night event alongside his wife, Sarah Jukaku. El-Sayed has pushed back against fears of Sharia law
Santander, a 32-year-old former All-Star from Venezuela, shared two memes on Instagram
Santander’s comments came at a low point in his relationship with Blue Jays fans. The native Venezuelan was coming off his lone All-Star season in 2024 when he left the division-rival Baltimore Orioles for a five-year, $92.5 million deal in Toronto.
Although the Jays would win an American League pennant in 2025, he was inconsistent at the plate and was ultimately scratched during the ALCS due to back pain. Later he underwent labral surgery and missed the entire 2026 season.
In response, a handful of Jays fans were quick to urge the club to ‘waive’ Santander, which would be difficult considering the millions he is still owed.
Many others wondered why Santander would take aim at Islam when so many Muslims live in Southern Ontario.
‘Why would anyone post this in general but especially someone with such a following?’ one fan asked on X.
‘They should cut him immediately,’ another added. ‘No place for that in our great country.’
