On September 6, Emily Wolf, a resident of Verdigris, Oklahoma, shared a post on Facebook regarding the bullying of her disabled son by the Bartlesville Bruin Football community.
According to Emily, Bartlesville football used a photo of her sons on their Barstool account in a failed attempt at humor.
Emily’s son, Robert, is a young boy with a disability who loves football and seems to inspire other players with his fun sense of humor and positive presence on the field.
Bartlesville Bruin Football Community Should Be Shamed for Turning Disabled Boy’s Photo into Meme, Says Oklahoma Parents!
The Bartlesville football post turned Robert’s disability into a meme, which was intended to be funny but came across as a cruel joke that should not be promoted.
Many commenters expressed that the Bartlesville football team should apologize and be held accountable for this incident.
One Oklahoma resident shared her thoughts on the matter, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable and should be addressed appropriately.
She wrote;
This is absolutely heartbreaking. No child should ever be the target of cruel “jokes” like this. There’s a huge difference between competitive trash talk and outright bullying, and this clearly crossed that line. We need a statement Bartlesville High School & Bartlesville Bruin Athletics & Bartlesville Bruin Football – Quarterback Club. What gives me hope is hearing about the young men who are stepping up to protect and support Robert. That’s what real character and true sportsmanship look like – standing by your teammates and community members when they need you most. Every child deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Emily Wolf, Robert sounds like an amazing kid who brings joy to those around him, and that’s what should be celebrated.
The incident appears to have taken place after a match between the Claremore Zebras and the Bartlesville Bruins, where the Bartlesville community used a photo of Robert in his wheelchair to mock him and celebrate their victory over the Zebras.
While the Bartlesville players were making fun of Robert, the Zebras players stood up for him and offered their support.
According to Emily, it was the Zebra boys who supported Robert, protecting him and showing kindness.
I’ve personally talked with several of our boys, and let me tell you, I’m beyond proud of how they’ve stepped up. The way they’re standing by Robert and protecting him says everything about the kind of young men they are. These kids were raised right, and they’re showing the true meaning of being a Zebra. Not just under the lights on Friday night, but every single day. Proud to be a Zebra
While Robert’s parents, Emily and Michael Wolf, admit that players sometimes talk trash, what happened this time seems completely unacceptable.
Many in the media have called for Robert to be protected and for the Bartlesville Bruin Football players responsible to be punished. For now, the Bruin team seems to remain silent.
