Former All-Star’s Fiery Response to Spirit Day Message

Supporting children facing bullying is a cause that many champion, yet not everyone gets on board.

This was evident during Spirit Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about bullying toward LGBTQ+ youth, which has been observed since 2010. According to GLAAD.org,

although acceptance of the LGBTQ community has reached new heights, discrimination and bullying still run rampant. The current climate involving anti-LGBTQ legislation—from book bans to restrictions on drag performances—puts America’s youth at significant risk, highlighting the urgent need for support. #SpiritDay offers an opportunity to demonstrate love and acceptance.

Major League Baseball teams showed their solidarity on social media with messages supporting Spirit Day, including even the Texas Rangers, the only team not to host an LGBTQ-themed event at their ballpark.

However, former Cincinnati Reds player Zack Cozart had a different take.

In response to the Reds’ Spirit Day post, he tweeted, “This sh*t is getting ridiculous… so sick of it… how many months and days do we celebrate real heroes of the military? 🤬🤬🤬”

While Spirit Day is not a federal holiday, Cozart’s comments raise a question: What defines a “real” holiday? For instance, Memorial Day and Veterans Day honor military personnel, while Independence Day celebrates the nation’s founding.

It remains unclear whether Cozart’s criticism is directed at the acknowledgment of bullying faced by LGBTQ+ youth or at holidays that support non-military causes.

At 39, Cozart played for the Reds and the Los Angeles Angels from 2011 to 2019, with a career batting average of .247 and an All-Star appearance in 2018. He was drafted by the Reds after attending the University of Mississippi.