Former UGA Quarterback Apologizes For 'Elite White People' Text

Former Georgia star quarterback Jake Fromm on Thursday apologized for comments he made in a text conversation last year in which he said that only “elite white people” should be permitted to purchase guns.

Fromm, who was selected in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, was discussing guns in a 2019 text conversation that was brought to light on Thursday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday that the conversation was with one of Fromm’s childhood friends who posted the text conversation as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In the conversation, Fromm texted, “But no guns are good. They let me need to get suppressors. Just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”

On Thursday, Fromm issued a statement after he said he spoke with his coaches with the Bills.

“I’m extremely sorry that I chose to use the words ‘elite white people’ in a text message conversation,” Fromm wrote. “Although I never meant to imply that I am an ‘elite white person,’ as stated later in the conversation, there is no excuse for that word choice and sentiment. While it was poor, my heart is not. Now, more than ever, is the time for support and togetherness and I stand against racism 100%. I promise to commit myself to being a part of the solution in this country. I addressed by teammates and coaches in a team meeting today and I hope they see this incident is not representative of the person I am. Again, I’m truly sorry for my words and actions and humbly ask for forgiveness.”

Leslie Frazier, the Bills' associate head coach, said he felt that Fromm's apology is genuine.

“We have a strong culture on our team," Frazier told reporters Thursday in a video conference call. "Those guys are going to sift through what is real and what is not real. We haven’t been around Jake and haven’t had time to spend much time with him because of the virtual offseason. He is a teammate. I think over time, he will gain their trust.

“All of us, make mistakes and he acknowledge it, I made a mistake. There are a number of us who can say the same thing, especially in our youth, have made some mistakes. You move on from it. You grow from it. That’s what we are going to try to do as a team, grow from it. I know Jake wants to grow from it as well.”