Muslim group calls Santander posts disconcerting, says there’s an opportunity at hand
Written by The Canadian Press on November 9, 2026
TORONTO — The National Council of Canadian Muslims says there’s an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive in the wake of a series of anti-Muslim videos shared by Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander on his social media account.
Steven Zhou, the council’s media and communications lead, says while the posts were disappointing and disconcerting, he’s hopeful the situation can lead to a stronger relationship between the team, player, ownership and the Muslim community.
Santander posted videos on his social media account in the aftermath of the U.S. midterm elections last week. He deleted them last Thursday.
The Blue Jays later issued a statement saying individual comments do not represent the organization’s values and beliefs.
General manager Ross Atkins is scheduled to hold an availability Tuesday afternoon at Major League Baseball’s GM meetings in Las Vegas.
The 32-year-old Santander, who is from Venezuela, didn’t play at the big-league level last season due to injuries. He signed a five-year deal worth US$92.5 million with the Blue Jays in January 2025.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2026.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press