Last night, as news spread of the Los Angeles Lakers' team-wide decision to wear "I Can't Breathe" shirts during pregame warm-ups, one Fox Deportes freelance reporter decided to drop in and deliver her blistering hot take on the matter.
Stopping by the Instagram account of ESPN's Arash Markazi, which featured a photo of Kobe Bryant wearing the aforementioned shirt, the reporter, Erika Reidt, wrote, "I'm gonna start wearing a shirt that says 'I can breathe because I obey the law.'"
1.
Wow.
Once Twitter caught wind of Reidt's comment, her mentions exploded with criticism, as people sought to bring the incident to Fox Deportes' attention. The backlash prompted Reidt to run back on her comments; she is claiming that her Instagram was hacked:
I want to clarify in regards to the comment about Eric Garner, my account was hacked & apparently that comment was posted without my conset
— Erika Reidt (@ErikaReidt) December 10, 2014
I am trying to investigate who posted this horrific comment. I was on a run when this comment was posted and realized that it was posted
— Erika Reidt (@ErikaReidt) December 10, 2014
When I began receiving all these crazy messages. That is not the only post made. There are posts to sites I don't know. I don't believe
— Erika Reidt (@ErikaReidt) December 10, 2014
Anyone deserves to die. I am praying for Eric Garner's family and also that police become more compassionate about our communities needs.
— Erika Reidt (@ErikaReidt) December 10, 2014
I was raised in the hood and know the struggles our minority communities go through. I pray we become the system and abolish all racism.
— Erika Reidt (@ErikaReidt) December 10, 2014
I also urge the governement to #StopDividingFamilies
— Erika Reidt (@ErikaReidt) December 10, 2014
Normally, we're prone to believe that someone is innocent until proven guilty; however, Reidt's alibi is suspicious given that she was co-signing people who were defending the comment earlier in the evening. If the comment didn't belong to Reidt, then why was she initially owning it?
Jig.exe RT @p_cal How is your account hacked but you agree you're entitled to your opinion @ErikaReidt ? pic.twitter.com/b9kDEw6JrB
— Ahmed/ISeeEverything (@big_business_) December 10, 2014
Due to the nature of the remark, as well as the ambiguity of its origin, Fox Deportes is sidelining Reidt for the time being.
FOX Deportes is investigating the comments made by freelancer Erika Reidt and has suspended her until further notice.
— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) December 10, 2014
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