WATCH: Auburn Fan Screams ‘Go Back to Uruguay! This is America!’ to Foreign Player at Basketball Game
Twitter users were revolted by the behavior of an Auburn basketball fan who yelled “Go back to Uruguay! This is America!” to Tennessee forward Santiago Vescovi, in yet another example of xenophobic bullying in the era of President Donald Trump.
Early in Saturday’s Auburn vs. Tennessee game, Vescovi — a Uruguayan national who plays for the Volunteers — missed a three-pointer, then fouled an Auburn player after charging in with the rebound.
As the announces discussed the foul during the instant replay, a fan could be heard shouting “Go back to Uruguay! This is America!” at Vescovi.
The moment was flagged by Tennessee sportswriter Trey Wallace, and quickly went viral.
Wow. Listen closely. Auburn fan taunting Vescovi.
“Go back to Uruguay, this is America” #Vols pic.twitter.com/5OCuBLf7K7
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) February 22, 2020
The moment drew revulsion from many Twitter users.
Love to mix in a little xenophobia with my Saturday college hoops https://t.co/WbKgJxSkQq
— David Ubben (@davidubben) February 22, 2020
Yeah, this fan gotta go. https://t.co/Ub4xEBgYtW
— Tom Green (@Tomas_Verde) February 22, 2020
Appalling behavior. https://t.co/f6Pd4rOGiY
— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) February 22, 2020
A recent study by The Washington Post found that hundreds of bullies have used Trump’s “racist and xenophobic” words to bully other children, but it doesn’t seem to have stopped at elementary or high school.
Editor’s note: the previous version mistakenly identified a school involved, and has since been corrected.
Watch the clip above via CBS.
