Paris, France – Korbin Albert, a midfielder for the U.S. women’s national soccer team and Paris Saint-Germain, issued a public apology for liking and sharing social media posts that she acknowledged as “offensive, insensitive and hurtful.” The 20-year-old player reposted anti-LGBTQ+ content on her TikTok account, prompting criticism and reflection on her actions.
Albert took to Instagram to express remorse, stating, “Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful, which was never my intent.” Her apology followed the sharing of a video from a Christian sermon that depicted being gay and “feeling transgender” as wrong, as reported by various media outlets.
The apology came after a game where Albert scored a goal for PSG in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals against Häcken, garnering attention and criticism from retired U.S. star Megan Rapinoe. In her Instagram story, Rapinoe urged people not to use ‘my beliefs’ as a shield, highlighting the harmful impact of hate speech on vulnerable individuals, particularly youth.
Acknowledging the hurt caused to her teammates, fans, and the broader community, Albert emphasized the importance of creating safe and respectful environments for all individuals, both on and off the field. She expressed remorse for falling short of upholding these values and pledged to strive for better behavior in the future.
With seven appearances for the United States and a role in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, Albert’s actions have stirred conversation within the soccer community. Despite the misstep, she remains a part of the roster for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup, with a chance to demonstrate growth and learning from this experience.