Monica Matthews, a talk-radio host on Atlanta’s 95.5 WSB-FM, took to Twitter to apologize for a tweet she had published which connected former Alabama star wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to a gang.
The Denver Broncos selected Jeudy with the No. 15 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and while Alabama and Broncos fans both celebrated, others were more interested in the necklace he was wearing in his draft profile video.
Jeudy was wearing the Star of David, a common piece worn by members of the Jewish community. However, the 2018 Biletnikoff recipient is not Jewish, as he explained during his media availability at the 2020 NFL Combine.
He explained that his friends have nicknamed him “Jew,” given the “Jeu” in his last name. He made it clear he means no disrespect from his wearing of the symbol.
This explanation did not reach everyone’s ears prior to the draft, as Matthews published a tweet connecting Jeudy to the “Gangster Disciples,” a gang founded in Chicago during the 1960’s that commonly uses an altered Star of David as the logo.
Her tweet has since been deleted, but remains on the internet in the form of a screenshot.
Her tweet offers two screenshots, one of Georgia gang investigator Ray Ham’s LinkedIn post, and the other of the Wikipedia info on the Gangster Disciples. She adds “Wow. Never ends. #criminalgangs,” and decides to inform the NFL’s Twitter account by tagging them.
Matthews was not done yet. She responds to a reply on the tweet that claims Jeudy “sounds like a smart, compassionate, talented young man.”
The Atlanta radio host responded attempting to inform the commenter that “gangbangers come in all sizes.”
Why is it so hard to believe gangbangers come in all sizes incl military, police, teachers? I’m going to leave it there
— Monica On Air (@monicaonairtalk) April 24, 2020
She quickly received messages and replies informing her of the incorrect assumption. Less than 24 hours after posting the original tweets, she published a video explaining why she believed his connection to the gang to be true.
My sincerest apologies @NFL @jerryjeudy pic.twitter.com/x3iflh5Xdz
— Monica On Air (@monicaonairtalk) April 24, 2020
She claims to have consulted a trusted a source, Ham, and did no further research before posting those tweets. Matthews also cites her lack of sports media consumption as a reason for the tweets. She congratulates Jeudy on all of his accomplishments and wishes him good luck on his future career in the NFL.