Miko Grimes, the wife of former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes, has denied being anti-Semitic after tweeting that the owner of her husband’s former team employed a ‘Jew buddy’.
Mrs Grimes, who often tweets controversial messages, tweeted that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross hired General Manager Mike Tannenbaum because of his religion.
The message to her 16,000 followers read: ‘Gotta respect ross for keeping his jew buddies employed but did he not see how tannenbaum put the Jets in the dumpster w/that sanchez deal [referring to former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez].’
The message has been widely condemned on social media and by the Anti-Defamation League.
Twitter user Darren Heitner tweeted to Miko Grimes that she was ‘disgusting’ and Dr Tboshhhhhh said that she ‘continues to be one of the worst spouses in sport’.
The Anti-Defamation League accused Miko Grimes of ‘classic, garden-variety anti-Semitism’.
Hava L Holzhauer, Florida Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League, said: ‘ADL is outraged and deeply concerned with Ms Grimes’ recent comment, which evokes textbook anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories about secret Jewish control.
‘Her suggestion that an NFL front office would operate as a “Jews-only club” is nothing less than classic, garden-variety anti-Semitism.
‘Using her fame, as a former AM radio show host and as the wife of a professional athlete, as a platform to defame others is simply unacceptable. Intolerance of others is never the answer. Ms Grimes needs to realize that her words were deeply offensive.’
He added that the assertion that Jews ‘control’ Hollywood, the media, banking and finance, government, and even sports franchises, is an anti-Semitic stereotype based on the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, the 19th century anti-Semitic forgery that suggests Jews conspire to control all major industries.
Miko Grimes, however, refused to apologise – and actually went on the offensive afterwards.
She tweeted to Twitter account Playground Legends, after it accused her of anti-Semitism: ‘Imao! U thinks thats antisemitic [sic]? Ur soft as puppy s***! Go cry in the corner. And stay off twitter.’
She claimed to the Tampa Bay Times, meanwhile, that she didn’t have an issue with Jewish people.
She said in an email to the paper: ‘What would I have against Jewish people? Why is this the first time I’m being called anti-Semitic, as big as my mouth is, if I really have an issue with Jewish people? Is anything I said false?
‘Do Jewish, Catholic, Christian and frat brothers, etc. hire their own people? I was intending to offend the Dolphins, specifically Stephen Ross and Mike Tannenbaum. Anyone else that chooses to dive in front of those bullets is their own fault.’
Some speculated that Miko Grimes’ tweet could land her husband in hot water with his new employers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which is owned by the Jewish Glazer family.