#Bills’ Jake Fromm apologizes for ‘elite white people’ text

After a text message conversation in which he referred to “elite white people” was made public, Jake Fromm issued an apology to his new team and the public Thursday.

The Bills rookie quarterback, in text messages dated from March of 2019, suggested guns were “good” but that suppressors should be made “very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”

An unknown Twitter user posted a screenshot of the conversation late Wednesday night, leading to Fromm, 21, tweeting an apology Thursday afternoon — which he said came after he spoke to teammates and coaches during a team meeting earlier in the day.

“I am extremely sorry that I chose to use the words, ‘elite white people’ in a text message conversation,” wrote Fromm, the fifth-round pick out of Georgia in April. “Although I never meant to imply that I am an ‘elite white person,’ as stated later in the conversation, there’s no excuse for that word choice and sentiment. While it was poor, my heart is not.

“Now, more than ever, is the time for support and togetherness and I stand against racism 100%. I promise to commit myself to being a part of the solution in this country. I addressed my teammates and coaches in a team meeting today and I hope they see this incident is not representative of the person I am. Again, I’m truly sorry for my words and actions and humbly ask for forgiveness.”

The Bills were made aware of the comments and allowed Fromm to speak with the team, they said in a statement.

“Earlier today, we became aware of comments made in a text message conversation involving Jake Fromm in 2019. He was wrong and he admitted it to us. We don’t condone what he said. Jake was honest and forthcoming to us about the text exchange,” the statement read. “He asked for an opportunity to address and apologize to his teammates and coaches today in a team meeting, which he did. We will continue to work with Jake on the responsibilities of being a Buffalo Bill on and off the field.”

Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier told Buffalo reporters that Fromm’s apology on the team’s Zoom call seemed “very sincere.”

“Guys are going to give Jake every chance to prove that that was a teachable moment and he’s learning and growing,” Frazier said.

Frazier said he believes that Fromm’s teammates would be reaching out to him and that they will give him the benefit of the doubt.

“We have a strong culture on our team, and those guys are going to sift through what’s real and what’s not real,” Frazier said.

Fromm’s apology came on the same day Saints quarterback Drew Brees issued his own apology for saying he would “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag.”