The top-ranked quarterback in the 2018 NFL draft, Josh Allen, has apologized after a series of now-deleted old tweets containing racial slurs and more offensive language were uncovered on his Twitter. The former Wyoming quarterback spoke to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who said on ESPN that Allen was “contrite, extremely apologetic” and “recognized that it was irresponsible for him to do the things that he did.” Allen attributed the language to “youth.”
At least one of his tweets, which allegedly said “if it ain’t white, it ain’t right,” was taken from the ABC show Modern Family. Another tweet, which included a reference to the n-word, was an alleged quote of a Rick Ross song. Allen also told Smith that he recognized that “this particular moment, on the eve of the draft, this is an incredibly bad look.” Moreover, Allen “realizes the time we are living in” and admits the tweets were mistakes, according to Smith.
Although the tweets in question are now gone, TMZ kept a few. According to the tabloid, a few of the tweets read:
![Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 203 115"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
"i dont think you n**gas want a troubled son!" - June 14, 2012
“N**gas Trying To Get At Me" - February 12, 2013
"Bout to show up these N**gas at pong" - February 26, 2012
"If it ain't white, it ain't right" - June 25, 2013
Other Twitter users decided to screenshot some other tweets.
UH OMG pic.twitter.com/nzFNriYA4u
— Noah Vilagi (@NVilagi) April 26, 2018
Josh Allen’s old tweets are Geronimo Allison-level of bad pic.twitter.com/FaLUxYR3Kg
— Luke (BUCKS IN 6) (@theRealLT_) April 26, 2018
According to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Allen is projected to be selected by the Cleveland Browns with the first overall pick. Moreover, an undisclosed team with with a top-five draft pick told ESPN that they did not know about Allen’s tweets and had “never heard anything but positives” about the player.