Dear America, this is a safe space: Why did you follow Robert Griffin III on social media?
I’ll go first. Believe it or not, it wasn’t his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2011 or his rise to stardom in Washington that led to me hitting the follow button on @RGIII. It takes a lot for me to follow an athlete on social media, but Griffin had a unique connection as the quarterback of my beloved Cleveland Browns. I didn’t have high hopes for the RG3 era in Cleveland, even if Hue Jackson claimed he felt the Earth move beneath his feet during RGIII’s workout (seriously, that happened). Despite my usual pessimism about the Browns being justified, following Griffin did at least lead to a memorable moment: his tweet after Cleveland’s lone victory of the 2016 season.
Merry Christmas Cleveland!!!!
You filthy Animals!!!!— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 24, 2016
While I can’t recall many of Griffin’s social media posts from his NFL career or his three years at ESPN, I’ve certainly noticed a shift in his online strategy since being laid off by the Worldwide Leader last August. The 2012 Rookie of the Year frequently posts about politics, particularly regarding President Donald Trump. His posts usually adopt a similar format: he declares his feed a “safe space” and poses an open-ended question to stimulate engagement. Griffin has used this tactic regarding topics like the NFL MVP race, Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, and even Taylor Swift. The most prevalent topic he has raised post-ESPN has been Donald Trump, especially since he was reelected last November.
Griffin has prompted discussions about political subjects at least seven times since October, having previously done so during his ESPN tenure. His aim seems to be to facilitate discussions about topics like Trump’s plans for the Middle East, his heated exchange with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Elon Musk and DOGE. Yet, it’s clear that the former Baylor star isn’t contributing much to these conversations; he seems to want his followers to use his posts as a launchpad for discussion.
You know, the kind of topics often reserved for a “safe space.”
America, this is a safe space. How do we feel about Donald Trump wanting to get the USA involved in owning the Gaza Strip and going back into a Middle East conflict?
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 5, 2025
RGIII’s strategy is clear: he tosses out a polarizing topic—whether it’s Drake vs. Kendrick or Trump—with the assurance that interactions will be free of judgment. While I can’t definitively say his primary motivation is generating revenue from his premium X subscription, it certainly would be an effective strategy if that were his goal. As you might expect, I’m not a fan of his social media approach, even though I still follow him for the occasional sarcastic retweet about his “caption this” posts. While I find his attempts to drive engagement with real-world topics distasteful, I’ve generally aimed to adopt a “live and let live” attitude.
However, I take issue with RGIII criticizing others for stepping outside their sports-centered safe spaces to engage in political dialogue. This was evident when the No. 2 pick of the 2012 NFL Draft tweeted, “Sports shows on TV should be about sports not politics,” in apparent reference to Stephen A. Smith’s call-out of President Trump regarding the Department of Defense temporarily removing an article about Jackie Robinson.
Was Smith’s response excessive? Naturally. He is, after all, Stephen A. Smith. While one might question whether Smith intended to leverage this moment for his own political aspirations, it’s important to recognize that this was a sports conversation—albeit one with political implications. Following some backlash, Robert Griffin III not only doubled down but asserted that Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier wasn’t political, which only fueled further backlash. Perhaps Smith should have prefaced his comments by clarifying that First Take is a “safe space.”
This tweet is not about Jackie Robinson.
His significance can never and should never be erased.
Breaking the color barrier in baseball in itself is not political.
Jesse Owens winning 4 Gold Medals in itself was not political.
Jack Johnson becoming the 1st Black Boxing…
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 20, 2025
While utilizing a meme to respond to critics, Griffin remarked, “I’m not anti sports and politics mixing. I’m anti showing up to a barbecue food spot ordering a chopped brisket sandwich and being served Mediterranean food.” Essentially, he employs the popular strawman argument that many “stick to sports” advocates use: it’s not the message he opposes; it’s simply that this particular five-minute segment in a two-hour show wasn’t what he tuned in for.
Griffin is entitled to his perspective, but I will refer him back to my initial question: Why did anyone choose to follow him on social media in the first place? I would wager it certainly wasn’t for open-ended prompts discussing President Trump’s intentions regarding the Gaza Strip. I’m certain RGIII would remind me that if I dislike his posts, I can unfollow him, which is a fair point. Yet, I would also suggest he can simply switch off First Take or any sports show daring to discuss the removal of the Robinson article. Although, I suspect that wouldn’t drive the same engagement his “sports shows… should be about sports not politics” post garnered.
Is it hypocritical for Robert Griffin III to criticize sports shows for addressing politics while he simultaneously posts empty political engagement bait on his own social media account?
This is a safe space, America.
