49ers long-snapper Taybor Pepper was taken aback by the wave of hateful comments he received on social media after expressing relief that teammate Ricky Pearsall was safe following a harrowing shooting incident.
Over the weekend, Pepper posted a message of support on social media after Pearsall, a 49ers rookie, was shot during an attempted robbery. The 17-year-old assailant, trying to steal Pearsall’s Rolex, fired multiple shots, one of which struck Pearsall in the chest during the struggle. Despite the severity of the situation, Pearsall was later reported to be in stable condition.
“Glad to hear Ricky is stable,” Pepper wrote in his initial post. However, this message, intended to convey relief and support, quickly became a lightning rod for negative reactions. Shocked by the backlash, Pepper shared his dismay online, stating, “Cannot believe I had to mute replies to my last tweet.”
The responses were not merely critical but also politically charged, with some social media users attacking Pepper’s perceived political views. One user callously dismissed the importance of Pearsall’s health, stating, “Why? Never liked the draft pick anyway who cares.” Another user took the opportunity to insult Pepper directly, questioning, “Are you still [a] liberal piece of s–t?”
In response to the hostility, Pepper adjusted his social media settings to limit who could reply to his posts, restricting it to only those mentioned in his tweets. This isn’t the first time Pepper has found himself at the center of a politically charged discussion. The long-snapper has previously been vocal on social media about his political views, including criticism of ESPN host Pat McAfee and former President Donald Trump’s performance during a discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists.
Despite the negativity he faced online, Pepper has continued to focus on his role with the 49ers. He played in all 17 games for the team last season and has been a key member of the squad for the past four seasons.
Meanwhile, Ricky Pearsall was discharged from the hospital just a day after the shooting. The 49ers released a statement thanking the San Francisco Police Department, emergency medical services, and the staff at San Francisco General Hospital for their swift response and care.
The incident underscores the sometimes volatile nature of social media, where even well-intentioned posts can become targets for unwarranted backlash. Despite this, Pepper remains committed to supporting his teammates and standing by his convictions.
