Chicago Bears star Charles Leno, Jr. popped the question to his girlfriend on the field after winning the NFC North on Sunday, but folks were quick to expose just how problematic it was. Deets inside...
Congrats are in order for Charles Leno, Jr. and bride-to-be Jennifer Roth, but not everybody is jumping for joy. And it's not just because his new fiance is white. A black professional athlete marrying a white woman is definitely not shocking news. But when said white woman has a history of borderline racist tweets and N-word dropping, folks are gonna pause for the cause.
Him : Will you marry me?
Her : Only if you , Beat the Pack & Win the North
Him : Done pic.twitter.com/hDW2LtYiSt— Charles Leno Jr (@charleslenojr72) December 17, 2018
Right ater he popped the question, folks rightfully took issue. Her tweets from a few years ago surfaced, and now her Twitter is on "Protected Tweets" status:
I’ll never understand why Black professional athletes seem to love them some Black-fetishizing, white women with lowkey racist tendencies & think saying “nigga” is ok. Bc its really not, you’re a public figure & you tweeted like this. But if yall happy congrats I guess. pic.twitter.com/EfqDI9Ucif
— (hi my name is...) (@Minne_miraaa) December 17, 2018
And before you give this person the benefit of the doubt they haven't earned, there's a tweet (or two) for that too:
It’s not evolving when you no longer post racist remarks online. Means you’ve learned to better hide&manipulate. No matter who she ended up being engaged to, this perspective out in the world& this way of speaking is perpetuating racism, which is deadly, to this day in our world.
— Brooke (@brooklyn_koch) December 17, 2018
Do you know for a fact she’s changed??? Nope. She definitely hasn’t addressed or acknowledged her past otherwise they wouldn’t still be there in the first place. Thanks for your opinion tho I guess
— (hi my name is...) (@Minne_miraaa) December 17, 2018
Maybe he is unbothered by her past or unbothered even if she still says these things in the present. His prerogative. But folks will still have an opinion, especially since he made his proposal so public:
SHE SAID YES!
Congrats to @charleslenojr72& @jennifermroth_! pic.twitter.com/muMxduITIW
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 16, 2018
Born by a black woman, fed by a black woman, raised by a black woman, struggle together with a black woman, but share his success with a white woman. @charleslenojr72@ChicagoBears#ChargesLenoSuckspic.twitter.com/rGu01LMDcE
— RatchetQueens.com (@ratchetqueens1) December 17, 2018
Of course....
Smdh— Renita Peck (@RenitaLGP) December 16, 2018
Taking a knee and marrying a white woman . . . when will the madness stop!! (can't wait to read the triggered responses)
— LocoTacoTx (@locotx_ftw_2002) December 17, 2018
nfl players to white women pic.twitter.com/87acRgmkCh
— RIP Stan Lee (@willy04) December 16, 2018
oh boy, i know for a fact the sistas are mad he with a snow bunny.
— AL (@MTTOTWEL) December 17, 2018
Surprise another black nfl player wifing a white girl lmaoooo congrats tho !
— J/K (@TTS_KAMI) December 17, 2018
Everybody can certainly marry whoever they want, regardless of race and reason. But that doesn't make these points any less valid either. Folks need to stop acting like some black men marrying white women simply because they are white isn't a thing.And that some black men don't inadvertently place them on a pedestal above black women, which isn't necessary:
All these black girls with attitudes in the comments. No wonder he got him a white girl
— Tyler Bridges (@MassAttackGamin) December 16, 2018
SHE SAID YES!
Congrats to @charleslenojr72& @jennifermroth_! pic.twitter.com/muMxduITIW
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 16, 2018
We wish them the best!
Photos: Charles' Twitter, NFL's Twitter, Jennifer's Twitter