Liam Hendriks, the Australian pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, has publicly condemned the death threats he and his family have received on social media. This bombshell indictment comes on the heels of his longest period of silence. It occurred during the club’s game against the New York Mets at Boston’s Fenway Park. In an emotional Instagram video, Hendriks talked about how toxic social media culture is right now.
Hendriks comes into Thursday’s game in relief of Garrett Crochet with one out in the 6th inning. He had a tough seventh inning, surrendering three straight singles. Even with the loss to the Mets, Hendriks has been a huge blessing to the Red Sox this season. Going further back, he’s only played in 11 MLB games total.
The Impact of Online Harassment
Hendriks revealed in his Instagram post that the emotional burden of these threats has deeply affected him. It was particularly moving to hear how much it’s changed his family. He emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Just as an FYI: threats against me and my wife’s life are horrible and cruel. You need help.”
What’s worse than the kind of comments he’s gotten is their nature, which is especially distressing. Hendriks wanted to reinforce the most concerning messages he received. Many people told him to “kill himself,” and one even hoped he would “get cancer and die.”
“Leaving comments and telling me to commit suicide and how you wish I died from cancer is disgusting and vile.” – Liam Hendriks
A Call for Reflection
Hendriks called on those who perpetrate such abuse to take a hard look at the way they behave. He implored everyone to rethink their priorities, to think about the effect of their words. His message certainly hits home with the sports world. It further resonates with public figures on different platforms who are subjected to the same type of harassment.
Take a pause and reimagine what you want your life to be about. To cowardly sit behind a keyboard and take shots at these young men and their families is unacceptable. Added Smith. Hendriks’ plea is a reminder that, like all of us, athletes are human and too often the subjects of misplaced and harmful vitriol.
The Role of Social Media in Sports
As athletes increasingly engage with fans through social media, incidents like these raise critical questions about online conduct and accountability. While platforms can foster community and support, they can harbor negativity and vitriol that adversely affects individuals’ mental health.
Hendriks’ experience underlines the critical need for a cultural change in the way fans engage with players. It’s a request, I think — and rightly so — for more consciousness of the weight that words have, even outside the digital world.
