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USA Today publishes hit piece on newly crowned Heisman winner. It backfires big time.

Sports

The mainstream media strikes again

(Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Kyler Murray, the star quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners, won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in what was undoubtedly one of the biggest moments of his budding sports career. Unfortunately for Murray, the night ended with controversy surrounding comments he made as a young teenager.

What happened?

Shortly after Murray's crowning college sports achievement, USA Today writer Scott Gleeson, who covers "social issues through a sports lens," published a story criticizing Murray for seemingly anti-LGBT tweets he made as a 15-year-old teenager.

Gleeson wrote:

But the Oklahoma quarterback's memorable night also helped resurface social media's memory of several homophobic tweets more than six years old.

When Murray was 15 years old, he tweeted at his friends (via his since-verified Twitter account) using an anti-gay slur to defame them. Four offensive tweets remained active on his account late Saturday night...

Gleeson's story quickly garnered attention online, but received a response he likely did not anticipate.

What was the reaction?

USA Today received widespread condemnation on social media for publishing the story — and even attempting to reach Oklahoma University's athletic department for comment — on a night of celebration for both Murray and Oklahoma University.

Did Murray respond?

Early Sunday morning, the star athlete aplogized for the tweets.

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