Colin Kaepernick Threatens to Move to Russia if Not Properly Respected in the U.S.
Misinformation concerning former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is often disseminated on social media platforms, with a recent quote attributed to him serving as a notable example of this phenomenon.
A post dated September 13 claimed, “Colin Kaepernick: ‘Will go to Russia if not respected properly in the United States.’” This statement was flagged under Meta’s efforts to combat false information on its News Feed. (For further details about our collaboration with Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, please consult our resources.)
A representative for Kaepernick did not provide a timely response to PolitiFact’s inquiries regarding the post; however, it was revealed that the quote originated from a website that identifies itself as satirical.
A Facebook post from SpaceX Fanclub on September 10 stated, “Colin Kaepernick says he’ll leave for Russia if he doesn’t receive the respect he deserves in the U.S. – This is SATIRE,” clearly indicating that “nothing on this page is real.”
We sought credible sources, including news articles or public statements from Kaepernick, to substantiate the claim that he made such a statement but found no evidence.
Moreover, Kaepernick is not a likely candidate to relocate to Russia. A 2019 report from the U.S. Senate indicated that a Russian disinformation campaign had targeted Kaepernick, who began his protest against police violence towards Black Americans in 2016 by sitting or kneeling during the national anthem before games. In 2019, he and the NFL reached a settlement concerning a grievance that alleged collusion by the league and team owners to keep him out of football.
We conclude that the assertion that Kaepernick stated he would leave the United States for Russia is false.
