Former tennis star Martina Navratilova on George Floyd killing: ‘Time to riot everywhere’

Former tennis star Martina Navratilova tweeted Thursday that it’s “time to riot everywhere” following the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died on Monday following a violent police arrest in Minneapolis that was caught on video. 

Clashes between protesters and law enforcement have since erupted in the Twin Cities, resulting in major property damage, dozens of fires and at least one death. 

Protests rock Minneapolis for the second straight night after a black man’s death in police custody. One person is killed in what police are investigating as a homicide amidst violence that included looting and setting fires. https://t.co/F1EdOBSMGH

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 28, 2020

Navratilova sent the provocative tweet on Thursday afternoon to her more than 300,000 followers. 

The tweet drew immediate blowback on social media. 

I respect Martina a ton in general, but is she REALLY going to riot? If she does, is it likely that a cop will kill her in a heated moment, or that she’ll get arrested and lose her livelihood and then home because of a court date? Will a riot burn down *her* neighborhood? pic.twitter.com/JqeZiXWQDM

— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) May 28, 2020

I guess the first riot will start at one of Martina Navratilova’s mansions. https://t.co/C21dNapwr6

— jon gabriel (@exjon) May 28, 2020

Woman ensconced in a gated community somewhere implores rioters to burn down black neighborhoods. https://t.co/iSXbaYsNGp

— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) May 28, 2020

An awful tweet by an all-time great athlete. https://t.co/xN45h4RaUs

— Jeff Stillman (@StillmanJeff) May 28, 2020

Navratilova deleted the tweet after her responses-to-retweets ration reached 15-to-1, with almost all reactions condemning the tweet, but she defended her choice of words, saying she was not making “a call to any violence whatsoever.”

To all those who have an issue with me calling for riots everywhere- please look up the many definitions of riot. This is not a call to any violence whatsoever- for example this a definition of riot

“an unbridled outbreak, as of emotions, passions, etc.”
So simmer down!!!

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 28, 2020

The 63-year-old retired from tennis in 2006 after winning 18 Grand Slam titles, tied for fifth all-time. 

The Czech-born Navratilova became a U.S. citizen in 1981.