The Japanese has faced backlash for her vehement support of the protests that followed George Floyd's death, and she's hitting right back.
Naomi Osaka has been a prominent voice on social media since the death of George Floyd, and the two-time major champion, just 22 years of age, wants the world to know that she is not content just “sticking to sports.”
The times call for action and Osaka is vehemently behind the cause of #BlackLivesMatter, period.
Osaka has faced—and railed against—a backlash on social media after throwing her support behind the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, and she has no plans to stop.
I hate when random people say athletes shouldn’t get involved with politics and just entertain. Firstly, this is a human rights issue. Secondly, what gives you more right to speak than me? By that logic if you work at IKEA you are only allowed to talk about the “GRÖNLID” 🤷🏽♀️?
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) June 4, 2020
“I’m vocal because I believe in the movement and want to try to use my platform to facilitate change,” Osaka told Reuters. “George Floyd’s murder and the situation generally in America has had a big impact on me. Being silent is never the answer. Everyone should have a voice in the matter and use it.”
Osaka told Reuters that she marched in Minneapolis and also in Los Angeles, where she currently resides. Those who follow her on social media where already aware.
Osaka also made comments about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to Reuters.
“Colin has been putting this message out since 2016. It took a pandemic, an economic crisis and a torturous murder on camera, all at the same time, for people to really hear him,” she said. “If the NFL wants to show that they really care the first thing they should so is take a knee together and give Colin his job back.”
Osaka seems to take pleasure in calling out the ignorance of those who troll her on social media.
“I’m more sad for them than myself—to be so hateful and ignorant can’t be an easy way to live life.”
