Commanders' Jonathan Allen apologizes for 'dumb' Hitler tweet
Jonathan Allen apologized on Wednesday for a tweet about Hitler.
The Washington Commanders defensive lineman issued his apology on Twitter, describing the earlier tweet as "dumb."
Early I tweeted something that probably hurt people and I apologize about what I said. I didn’t express properly what I was trying to say and I realize it was dumb!
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallen93_) February 9, 2022
So what did Allen write? Early Wednesday, he invited his followers to "ask me anything?"
Ask me anything
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallen93_) February 9, 2022
This prompted a question about his thoughts on team owner Daniel Snyder.
"He’s always been good to me so I have no reasons to dislike him," Allen responded.
Allen's troublesome tweet
He also was asked the conversation starter: "If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who are you inviting?"
To which Allen responded: "My grandad, hitler and Michael Jackson."
That tweet no longer exists on Allen's timeline. But this is social media, where everything controversial can be and usually is preserved via screenshot. Allen's Hitler tweet was. As was his since-deleted followup explaining said Hitler tweet.
"He’s a military genius and I love military tactics but honestly I would want to pick his brain as to why he did what he did," Allen wrote when asked to explain his answer. "I’m also assuming that the people I’ve chosen have to answer all my questions honestly."
Another tweet addressing criticism for giving Hitler "props" remained live late Wednesday.
"Not props, I probably should have used a different term but I was asked and I was giving my reason as to why I think it would be interesting to have a convo with him," Allen wrote. "He’s easily one if not the most evil persons to have ever lived but this was a hypothetical question."
Allen also responded to a Jewish follower who wrote that Allen's tweet was "unbelievably hurtful."
"I’m sorry I offended you that definitely was not my attention, I was just answering a question," Allen responded.
Washington named Allen as its nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for a second time in December. Here's guessing he'd like to have this early morning tweet back.
