A 27-year-old rugby star from Australia who is trying out for the San Francisco 49ers has apologized for suggesting that Jews were responsible for killing Jesus.
In a tweet on July 15, Jarryd Hayne acknowledged his words were “hurtful.”
On July 1, Hayne had used his Twitter account to post: “Jesus wanted to help people but was killed by his own people.” The following day, he added: “The Jews were the people who took him to the Romans n forced them to give the order because they couldn’t.”
The comments were condemned by Jewish leaders in Australia last week, and this week the Anti-Defamation League in New York issued a statement calling on Hayne to “understand the pain he has caused to Jews” and apologize for his words.
“Clearly Jarryd Hayne needs an education,” said Abraham Foxman, ADL’s national director. In 1965, the Vatican issued the Nostra Aetate, which officially stated that the Jews were not responsible for the death of Jesus.
Hayne has been one of the best rugby players in Australia for years and is trying to earn a spot on the 49ers as a running back or kick returner. He has signed a deal with the 49ers but is not currently part of the team’s 53-man squad.
In his apology on Twitter, Hayne wrote, “I sincerely apologize for my tweets on July 1. I have come to understand how my words were hurtful to the Jewish community and this was not my intention. I immediately took the tweets down once I realized my words were incorrect.” — j. staff