Chris Pope, a father from Toledo, recently shared his frustration on Facebook after his 9-year-old daughter faced racist trolling on TikTok following a basketball game.
The young athlete’s 4th-grade team had won 26-4 against a 5th-grade team from Genoa, but instead of praise, adults online chose to mock and belittle her.
Young Athlete’s Dad from Toledo Speaks Up for His Daughter as She Gets Mocked on TikTok by a Senior!
In his post, Pope described how the comments focused on his daughter’s appearance and her playing style, including remarks about her large feet and aggressive defense.
He says;
“She is 9, why are we making fun of kids having fun?”
Pope asked, highlighting the unfairness of adults criticizing children in such a manner.
He also pointed out the hypocrisy of other parents who complain about their own children being bullied but then participate in online harassment.
The TikTok video that sparked the incident has since been removed, and Pope was blocked by the parent who posted it.
Despite this, he emphasized that his daughter remains supported by a loving community, but the experience served as a stark reminder of how racial prejudice can overshadow achievement.
Several friends and other community members responded to Pope’s post, expressing outrage and offering support.
One of the parents in the comments writes;
Some parents feeds this nonsense into their kids and it grows. All sports has this issue but ignorance and jealousy exists. Don’t be discouraged keep teaching her now that these people are gonna be around as she grows. Keep giving her the tools to be able to understand that all people aren’t good. I pray for my grandchildren that God will keep them protected from this evil world that they have to be in!! Social media can be great one minute then cruel the next!!!
While many in the comments have expressed frustration and shared their support for the Toledo family, he is now seeking an official response from the authorities.
The Genoa School System, which oversees the team of the child who posted the TikTok video, has been contacted, though no official response has been shared publicly yet.
Toledo Pope continues to monitor the situation while ensuring his daughter feels safe and supported.
