Dodgers Adviser Condemns Santander’s Anti-Muslim Posts

Santander shared two posts on his Instagram Stories on November 4, targeting Islam and Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim Democrat elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. One post claimed Americans had voted for Sharia law; the other featured a preacher making broad claims about Muslims, including that no Muslim could be kind. Santander later removed both posts after screenshots circulated online.

Zaidi, a prominent Muslim in professional baseball, criticized Santander during a November 12 installment of the Deep Left Field podcast. He said he did not understand why Santander had put himself in that position and urged him to stop making inflammatory comments. Zaidi said he did not know Santander personally.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said he was deeply disappointed and had conveyed that to Santander. Atkins described the posts as anti-Islamic and said expressions of hate were extremely concerning. The team also said individual comments did not represent its values, adding that it aimed to make all fans feel welcome at its ballpark.

Zaidi praised Atkins’ public response. He previously served as the Dodgers’ general manager from 2014 to 2018, then led baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants for six years. After leaving the Giants, he returned to Los Angeles as a special adviser in 2025.

Santander’s Anti-Muslim Posts Demand a Clear Response

The posts Santander shared on Instagram’s Stories spread anti-Muslim claims, including a preacher’s assertion that no Muslim could be kind. One also targeted Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim Democrat elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. Santander deleted both posts after screenshots circulated, but their removal does not erase their content or the harm such generalizations can cause.

Dodgers special adviser Farhan Zaidi called out Santander on a podcast released November 12, saying the player should stop making inflammatory comments. Zaidi, one of professional baseball’s most prominent Muslims, said he did not know Santander personally. His criticism made clear that this was not a harmless social-media misstep to wave away.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said he was deeply disappointed and had told Santander so, describing the posts as anti-Islamic and expressions of hate. The team said individual comments did not represent its values and emphasized an inclusive ballpark. Zaidi praised Atkins’ forceful response: organizations that promise welcome to all fans have a stake in confronting rhetoric that targets a religious community.

Blue Jays Separate Team Values From Santander’s Deleted Posts

Anthony Santander shared two posts on Instagram Stories on November 4, one of which targeted Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim Democrat elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. Another featured a preacher making sweeping claims about Muslims. Santander deleted the posts after screenshots circulated, and the Blue Jays stressed that individual comments do not speak for the organization.

The team said it seeks to welcome all fans at its ballpark. General manager Ross Atkins nevertheless said he was deeply disappointed, had raised the matter with Santander and found anti-Islamic expressions of hate extremely concerning. The response draws a distinction between the conduct of one player and the values of the club as a whole.

Dodgers special adviser Farhan Zaidi went further in a podcast released November 12, urging Santander to stop making inflammatory statements. Zaidi said he did not know the player personally and praised Atkins’ condemnation. But calls for a person to “shut the hell up,” as Zaidi put it, shift the focus from whether a post is offensive to whether public criticism should become a demand for silence. The facts here show a player who removed the posts and a team that disavowed them.