Taybor Pepper, a long snapper for the 49ers, had to disable replies to a Ricky Pearsall-related post on X after being the target of political hate for his liberal views on the social media platform.
Pepper, 30, went to X on Sunday after learning that Pearsall was in serious but stable condition after being shot in the chest following a street robbery in San Francisco on Saturday.
“Glad to hear Ricky is stable,” Pepper posted.
He later added, in reference to conservatives who flooded his initial post about the rookie wide receiver: “I can’t believe I had to mute responses to my last tweet.”
Pepper previously criticized the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for a convention featuring Donald Trump this year, and the Pat McAfee Show for its lack of investigation into women’s Olympic boxing on X and was attacked by Republican-leaning users on X for his liberal views online despite having little affiliation with Pearsall.
49ers long-thrower Taybor Pepper faced hate from X for his liberal views after he tweeted that he was glad to know Ricky Persall is in stable condition.
Pepper later responded to conservatives who criticized him for X, though 49ers fans also supported him.
“Are you still a liberal piece of shit?” someone responded to Pepper’s initial post on Pearsall.
“Democrat,” another user noted.
“This should be a wake-up call to vote Republican,” one person told Pepper. “Everyone knows that liberal policies have destroyed many communities in California and across the country.”
However, 49ers fans came to their player’s rescue, hitting back at those who criticized Pepper for his political beliefs in his post on Pearsall.
“Public safety =/= politics, but I don’t know what you mean,” someone shared. “We pray for Ricky and for the safety of our city.”
Pepper previously criticized Pat McAfee and NABJ for their conservative learning beliefs.
“I don’t know why we can’t put politics aside and appreciate that he didn’t take another life,” said another user. “I hope your teammate recovers and gets back on the field tearing up the defense. It may not be this year, but I hope he’s back to 100%.”
“I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery,” one person wrote, referring to Pearsall. “This is a real shame. And it has nothing to do with football.”
Pepper, who played in 17 games last season, is certain to be the 49ers’ first option to throw deep passes when the team faces the New York Jets at home on Sept. 9. He signed with San Francisco in 2020 after going undrafted in 2016.
Pepper played for Michigan State in college (2012-15).