De Fratus’s Hobby Lobby Comments Cause Controversy on Twitter

Phillies relief pitcher Justin De Fratus took to Twitter to share his opinion on the ground breaking Burwell v. Hobby-Lobby ruling on Tuesday.

 

I have this crazy idea for people that think Hobby Lobby is wrong. Don’t apply there. Problem solved.

— Justin De Fratus (@JustinDeFratus) July 1, 2014

 

De Fratus continues his discourse in the exchange below and received some spirited feedback from some of his 14,500 followers.

One such follower points out that De Fratus doesn’t have a grasp on what he perceives to be a dangerous legal precedent:

@JustinDeFratus It will affect other people & for more reasons, if more companies apply the same logic to what they don’t want to pay for.

— Joe Guckin (@JoeInPhilly) July 1, 2014

In their 5-4 ruling, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act violates some employers’ religious freedom.

De Fratus’s comments flew under the radar for the most part after the ruling. When he gave up the winning run in last nights 5-4, 11-inning loss in Miami, business definitely picked up:

@JustinDeFratus thank u I didn’t realize it was so easy

— monica (@scottfartsmell) July 1, 2014

@JustinDeFratus You feel how you feel, but I think it’s not great based on, you know, science and equal rights. I *had*a crush on you. Past.

— Liz Roscher (@lizroscher) July 1, 2014

@JustinDeFratus Good thing you are paid for your arm and not your brain. — Papelbon Iver (@RealAdultPerson) July 2, 2014

@JustinDeFratus it’s actually not simple and it has really far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans, but, cool story bro — Adam Dembowitz (@adamd243) July 2, 2014

Justin De Fratus is 0-1 since supporting Hobby Lobby.

— Sixto Lezcano (@mleif) July 2, 2014

@globedeathcurse I don’t even know what Hobby Lobby is.

— Kazuto Yamazaki (@Kazuto_Yamazaki) July 2, 2014

@JustinDeFratus Easy to say for a dude who throws a glorified rock for a living.

— Mr. Belding Karaoke (@kwyrauch) July 2, 2014

 

Add this to the seemingly never-ending examples of an athlete voicing their political opinion, informed or otherwise, on social media and catching flack for it. Coupling his comments with being on the losing side of the pitching decision of last nights’ ball game, for some fans, it only compounded the disappointment of the 2014 Phillies season thus far.