Nashville, TN – The NFL world found itself in the midst of a social media mishap this week involving San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. Late Wednesday night, Kittle took to Instagram to address a fake quote attributed to him regarding the ongoing political discussions related to the NFL and, specifically, the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The post in question featured a well-designed image of Kittle, stating, “I love football because it unites people. But lately, I’ve seen politics being dragged into it far too often. Charlie Kirk may matter to some, but he has no place in the NFL. Football is for the fans, the competition, and the love of the game — not for politics.” However, Kittle quickly clarified that this was a fake quote and urged his followers to ignore the source.
The misinformation originated from a Facebook page named “Red And Gold Legacy,” a fan page mimicking typical sports content. This page had been posting real stories about the 49ers but recently turned to sensationalism surrounding Kirk’s tragic death, which occurred at a rally in Utah.
On acknowledging the barrage of hateful messages he received due to the viral post, Kittle stated, “Couple of things.. this is a fake quote. I hope most of you realize that. Also, that above account only posts fake news/reports, please ignore them.” His wife, Claire Kittle, also chimed in, expressing her dismay over the situation.
In the aftermath, Facebook took action and removed the misleading page. Meta’s spokesperson confirmed the page was in violation and has since been unpublished. Despite this, an investigation revealed that several other sports-related pages remain functional, some generating significant traffic while spreading similar unverified claims about NFL players.
Fake stories about Kittle and other players have gone viral, leading to public outcry and confusion among fans. Such incidents highlight the growing challenge of misinformation in the age of social media, raising questions about how players and teams handle such situations in the future.
As of now, Kittle’s original message remains clear: football is about the game and its fans, not political agendas. It’s essential for fans to verify information before reacting and contributing to the spread of falsehoods.
