Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is facing online criticism after making a subtle but pointed statement during the team’s annual Pride Night celebration at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 13.
While the veteran pitcher did not take the mound that evening, he drew attention for what some have labeled a quiet act of religious dissent.
As part of the organization’s Pride Night observance, Dodgers players were required to wear team-issued caps featuring the franchise’s “LA” logo in rainbow colors. Kershaw wore the assigned cap, but his included a handwritten reference to Genesis 9:12–16, a passage from the Bible that discusses the rainbow as a symbol of God’s covenant with humanity following the flood described in the Book of Genesis.
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The referenced verses read:
“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth… Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.’”
BREAKING: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw wrote “Genesis 9:12-16” on his ‘pride’ hat.
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and… pic.twitter.com/mPU94lYPxk— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) June 14, 2025
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Kershaw’s addition of the scripture notation quickly circulated online, prompting both support and condemnation.
Critics on X accused the pitcher of opposing the Pride Night event.
One user wrote, “Clayton Kershaw is a f**king LOSER.” Others suggested his actions made him less likable despite his long-standing success with the franchise.
Another comment read, “Clayton Kershaw will always be a Dodger great, but it’s things like this that make him a lot less likable. Just wear the hat. Be a tolerant Christian and accept that there are others who believe differently than you.”
Kershaw, 37, is widely regarded as one of Major League Baseball’s most accomplished pitchers.
Over the course of his career, he has won three Cy Young Awards, one National League MVP Award, and maintains a career record of 213 wins and 94 losses, with a .694 winning percentage.
He is considered a future Hall of Famer and a central figure in the Dodgers’ recent era of success.
The Dodgers have not issued a statement regarding Kershaw’s cap or the online criticism it provoked.
There has been no indication of any internal disciplinary action.
The controversy recalls prior incidents in which players or public figures have expressed religious beliefs that diverge from the cultural messaging tied to various public events or observances.
While public expression of differing beliefs is generally protected, reactions often vary depending on the nature and direction of the dissent.
Earlier in the 2024 season, Kershaw had announced the return of the Dodgers’ “Christian Faith and Family Day” after the team received pushback for honoring the controversial group “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” during last year’s Pride Night.
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At the time, Kershaw publicly stated his support for restoring the family-themed event as a way of including other viewpoints.
To date, neither the team nor Major League Baseball has commented on Kershaw’s specific display during the most recent Pride Night.
It remains unclear whether the team will address the incident publicly.
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What does Kershaw need to address? He wore their fruity Pride cap, as required. He simply inserted his own acknowledgement of the more traditional, conservative meaning of what a rainbow truly represents. It wasnt splashy, offensive or distracting. If you teams had more men behaving like Clayton Kershaw, I might actually watch your idiotic games again, because I’m sick of the league indictrination of Liberal, Leftist policies. I quit giving ANY pro sports time, consideration over a decade ago, just because of “taking a knee” and other anti American messaging. The election of Trump has signalled most America feels similarly, so get with the program, or protest your way into irrelevance like the DNC.
“Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.’”
That was a lie.. he isn’t doing it all at once, Now he is doing it in random locations hurting Good people… Target where th bad ones live, All the blue cities and states