Inside The Vikings

Alexander Mattison Received Horrible Racist DMs After Thursday's Game

The Vikings released a statement condemning the messages Mattison received on social media.
Will Ragatz|
Alexander Mattison Received Horrible Racist DMs After Thursday's Game
Alexander Mattison Received Horrible Racist DMs After Thursday's Game

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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings running back Alexander Mattison received 60-plus "disgustingly disrespectful messages" on social media after Thursday's game against the Eagles, he said on Instagram. Mattison shared screenshots of a couple of the horrifyingly racist and awful DMs to his story.

"Y'all can come at me all you want about fantasy and 'you suck' blah blah blah," Mattison wrote. "I really could care less. But this s*** is unacceptable. SMFH I hope the 60+ people who decided to come at me with disgustingly disrespectful messages tonight in DMs and comments really reflect on what you say and how it could truly affect someone. Under my helmet I am a human, a father, a son. This is sick. SMH."

Mattison lost a fumble in the first quarter against the Eagles and hasn't gotten much going on the ground during the first two games of the season. But that's just football. 

To see that he was subject to racist vitriol and told to kill himself is sickening and shameful. Nobody deserves to be treated like that. Mattison is a phenomenal teammate on the field and a great person and father off of it. Just last week, he was named the Week 1 NFLPA Community MVP after he "hosted a back-to-school event through his I AM GIFTED foundation for more than 250 underserved kids in Minnesota."

"We are sickened by the hatred and racial slurs directed toward Alexander Mattison following last night's game," the Vikings said in a statement. "There simply is no room for racist words or actions in sports or society. The Vikings will continue to fight to eliminate hate, to educate and to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community that respects and values our unique backgrounds. We stand with Alexander and players who, unfortunately, experience this type of ignorant and prejudicial behavior, and we ask our fans to continue to fight to eliminate racism."

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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