Multiple celebrities and sports stars have spoken out about the release of WNBA player Brittney Griner, but Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys has apologised for his original take on the situation.
Griner has finally been freed from a Russian prison, with the United States sending notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout the other way to force her release after negotiating a prisoner swap. Griner has been detained in Russia since February after she was accused of bringing cannabis oil in her luggage to a Moscow airport, and officials have been trying to free her ever since.
The release of Griner has been celebrated among United States nationals, although unfortunately there are still many citizens that remain trapped in Russia. Parsons touched on this upon hearing about the release of Griner, but has since apologised after he received heavy backlash.
Griner was moved to Mordovia prison in November, a Russian facility that's notoriously known for being 'inhumane', with extreme homophobia, racism and even gruelling work days that last 16 hours being reported by The Nation. President Joe Biden has been actively trying to get her out, and was successful on Thursday.
"She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home," President Biden said in a tweet, before later confirming that the US would be going back for Paul Whelan. The former Marine was arrested back in 2018 and accused of spying, and was handed a 16-year prison sentence in Russia.
Whelan has been there ever since, and Parsons initially questioned on Twitter why he was still stuck there while Griner got out. "Wait nah, he left a Marine? Hell nah," Parsons tweeted, before receiving heavy backlash.
The Cowboys star then tried to explain himself in a follow-up tweet, before later apologising and promising to be educated on the topic. "My last tweet was no shot at Brittney Griner. I’m super happy she’s back home as she should be," Parsons wrote.
"I just have family who have served and it’s crazy to me the President wouldn’t bring him home too. I’m the furthest thing from a Trump supporter but I’m not a fan of Biden either."
But then Parsons did offer a full apology, as he added: "Just spoke to some people that I respect and trust. I should have been more educated on the topic and not tweeted out of emotion for my family and others who have served.
"For that I apologise. Also if what I’m told about the attempts to bring Ret Marine Paul Whelan home are true then the best outcome was accomplished.
"I pray Mr. Whelan comes home but am extremely happy for Brittney and her family. I am not too prideful to admit when I’ve made a mistake."
