The aftermath of Miami’s double-overtime win over Florida State has taken a turn nobody saw coming. Miami defensive lineman Damon Wilson II shared screenshots on social media of racist and threatening messages he allegedly received after the game, and the sender has now been identified. Kade McLendon, an IT employee at the Florida Bar since 2024 and a Florida State graduate, has been placed on administrative leave while the organization investigates.
The messages reportedly included repeated use of the N-word, threats of sexual assault, threats against Wilson’s family members and a homophobic slur. Wilson posted the screenshots with the caption“glimpse into the life of a black student athlete.”The Florida Bar confirmed McLendon’s identity and released a statement calling the messages not only ethically and morally reprehensible but also a violation of its internal social media policy for employees.
The win itself, a 43-35 thriller that pushed Miami to No. 1 in the AP poll, has been largely overshadowed by the fallout online. The story is raising bigger questions about the abuse Black college athletes face in their inboxes and how accountable fans should be for what they type behind a screen. What do you think should happen next in the investigation?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.