:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/BDM3PUZKQRFY3GEYDERNPAMYTI.jpg "American midfielder Korbin Albert apologizes for sharing ‘insensitive’ messages on social networks")
PARIS (AP) — Korbin Albert, a midfielder for the United States women’s national team, apologized Thursday night for sharing and liking social media posts that she described as “offensive, insensitive and hurtful.”
Albert, who is 20 years old and plays for Paris Saint-Germain, would have echoed anti-LGBTQ+ content on his TikTok account.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media,” Albert wrote on his Instagram account. “Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful, which was never my intention.”
According to various media outlets, Albert shared a video of a Christian sermon, which described that being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong.
Albert apologized shortly after PSG’s 3-0 victory over Häcken in the second leg of the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals, a match in which she scored the second goal, and after being criticized by Megan Rapinoe, the star of the national team who retired last year.
“I’m really disappointed in myself,” Albert added. “And I deeply regret the pain I have caused my teammates, other players, fans, friends and everyone who may have been offended.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to play this sport on a world stage and I promise to do better,” he added.
Rapinoe, the former United States captain, did not mention Albert by name, but in an Instagram story she urged people “not to hide under ‘my beliefs’” because “there are kids who are literally killing themselves because of this hate.”