Washington Commanders player Jonathan Allen has issued an apology after saying he’d like to enjoy dinner with “military genius” Adolf Hitler.
Allen — the Commanders’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for the second year in a row — made the remarks in a since deleted tweet after someone asked him with which three people in history he’d like to dine.
What are the details?
As part of a social media “ask me anything,” a Twitter user asked Allen what three people in world history he’d want to take to dinner.
His three choices included his grandfather, pop icon Michael Jackson, and Hitler.
“My granddad, hitler and micheal [sic] Jackson,” Allen responded to the user’s question.
When later pressed as to why he’d want to have dinner with Hitler, Allen wrote, “He’s a military genius and I love military tactics but honestly I would want to pick his brain as to why he did what he did. I’m also assuming that the people I’ve chosen have to answer my questions honestly.”
The defensive tackle’s tweet garnered heavy backlash, prompting him to issue an apology.
He took to Twitter once more where he wrote, “Early I tweeted something that probably hurt people and I apologize about what I said,” Allen admitted. “I didn’t express properly what I was trying to say and I realize it was dumb!”
Allen later explained that he wasn’t condoning Hitler’s behavior, but was merely stating his reason behind the controversial pick.
“Not props, I probably should have used a different term but I was asked and I was giving my reason as to why I think it would be interesting to have a convo with him,” he reasoned. “He’s easily one if not the most evil persons to have ever lived but this was a hypothetical question.”
A Twitter user who identified themselves as Jewish pointed out how disturbing Allen’s remark was.
The user wrote, “Dude. Hitler? What the ACTUAL F***? Do you have any inkling as to how unbelievably hurtful it is to hear for a Jewish kid who likes football that YOU WANNA HAVE A MEAL WITH HITLER?”
Allen responded, “I’m sorry i offended you that definitely was not my attention [sic], I was just answering a question.”