NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club announced on Sunday that driver Noah Gragson had been “suspended indefinitely” for alleged misconduct on social media. A report from earlier that day claimed that Gragson liked a meme making fun of the 2020 death of George Floyd, leading to his immediate suspension.
“We have made the decision to suspend Noah Gragson effective immediately regarding his actions that do not represent the values of our team,” Legacy Motor Club wrote in a statement. “Josh Berry will drive the No. 42 entry for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan.”
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LegacyMotorclub) August 5, 2023
NASCAR followed up with a statement of its own, supporting the decision and saying that Gragson “violated the Member Conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book.”
NASCAR fully supports Legacy Motor Club’s decision to suspend Noah Gragson. Following his actions on social media, NASCAR has determined that Gragson has violated the Member Conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book and has placed him under indefinite suspension.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 5, 2023
The statements came in response to a report from Frontstretch.com’s Daniel McFadin claiming that Gragson “saw and watched the meme” on Instagram sometime between May 27 and August 4…“then he pressed the ‘heart’ icon.
“Noah Gragson made an incredible, potentially career costing mistake,” McFadin wrote in his article.
Noah Gragson made a big mistake.
I did my due diligence to make sure it was real.
My @Frontstretch column on Gragson's deserved suspension.#NASCAR https://t.co/ItLrrc9Ere
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) August 5, 2023
The meme in question depicts Floyd, who died in police custody in 2020, as the crab from the Disney movie “The Little Mermaid” singing a parody of the song “Under the Sea”—in this case, “Under the Knee,” a reference to Floyd being restrained by police.
In response to his suspension, Gragson tweeted an apology without addressing the specifics of the post. “I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media,” he wrote.
I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media.
I understand the severity of this situation.
I love and appreciate everyone.
I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple. https://t.co/PCX6iMJxRF— Noah Gragson (@NoahGragson) August 5, 2023
None of the parties involved have provided further details about when/if Gragson’s suspension will be lifted, but many NASCAR fans protested the decision, calling the punishment overly harsh for something as simple as liking a post.
But all may not be lost for Gragson just yet. X owner Elon Musk announced that same day that “If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill. No limit.”
If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill.
No limit.
Please let us know.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023
While Gragson liked a post on Instagram—which Musk does not own—the timing of the announcement would seem to indicate that powerful interests are paying attention to the debate over online censorship.
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