Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple became a popular villain to Saints fans earlier this year when he used Twitter to go after New Orleans, the city’s people and South Louisiana culture.
At noon on Sunday in the Caesars Superdome, Apple makes his return to New Orleans as a cornerback for the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s fair to assume that Apple’s past comments won’t inspire a warm homecoming for the former Saints defensive back, who played in New Orleans in 2018 and 2019.
Apple’s past tweets drew heat from folks in South Louisiana, and he hasn’t made an attempt to walk away from his comments over the last nine months.
“Idk which fan base I hate more prolly the saints but It’s close wit the giants it’s a toss up,” Apple said in a tweet on Jan. 23.
Just prior to that, he commented on a clip of a Buffalo Bills player putting a hit on a fan who ran onto the field during the Bills-Chiefs playoff game.
“this is what I wanna do to them ravens saints and giants fans,” Apple said in a tweet.
Apple was hit with a ferocious ratio on Twitter thanks to Saints, Giants and Ravens piling on, but he took it up another notch when he made clear he had some type of personal grudge against the city of New Orleans.
“New Orleans is the dirtiest smelliest city and has the worst food it’s that swine and crawfish thts killin yall brains,” Apple said in a tweet.
New Orleans is the dirtiest smelliest city and has the worst food ever 😂 it’s that swine and crawfish thts killin yall brains
— Eli Apple (@EliApple) January 24, 2022
New Orleans residents have taken advantage of every opportunity to send shade Apple’s way, including making him the butt of jokes during Mardi Gras.
While Apple hasn’t criticized New Orleans and its residents since his January tweets, he acknowledges that he has seen all the jokes made at his expense.
Eli Apple wasn’t interested in stirring the pot of going back to New Orleans where he’s become such a figure of disdain.
Politely talked about focusing on getting the win.
But when asked if he’d seen all the Mardi Gras signs, etc., his answer was short, simple.
“I see it.”
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) October 12, 2022
His own uncle called him out at one point for his comments on the people of New Orleans.
There are some football fans in South Louisiana who will be cheering for a pair of LSU legends who play for the Bengals – Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. But it’s easy to see just as many people rooting against the Bengals because of Apple.
With Apple ready to set foot in the dome, social media has been abuzz with plenty of jokes at the New Jersey native’s expense.
Let’s stop arguing about Saints fans who plan to cheer Joe & Chase and remember the real enemy…Eli Apple
— Ralph Lauren 5⚜4 (@504Tru) October 13, 2022
Eli Apple calls streetcars trollies.
— buckzollo (@buckzollo) October 13, 2022
Eli apple peels his crawfish with rubber gloves
— Bray Dufren (@bray_dufren) October 13, 2022
Eli Apple likes kale in his jambalaya
— Hewson Knight (@HewsonKnight) October 13, 2022
I need to see @Cantguardmike Dunk on Eli apple. I need it like water.
— Adrian⚜️ (@ayydrianmk) October 13, 2022
Eli Apple look like the type of dude to take credit for the group project that he wasn’t apart of.
— Lockimore (@ISellForSubs_YT) October 12, 2022
Eli Apple eats a daiquiri with a fork and doesn’t suck the head of a crawfish.
— Fatih⚜️ (@leRoiSoleil2020) October 12, 2022
Eli Apple orders his poboys on wheat bread.
— Inside Saints (@InsideSaints) October 12, 2022
Eli Apple Post Game Presser Sunday… pic.twitter.com/sLZQdYv5yY
— Petty_Cajun⚜️ (@F8tallycool) October 12, 2022
A candid shot of Eli Apple enjoying some downtime. pic.twitter.com/QbGBDYYZMF
— ⚜️🍊Britt🍊⚜️ (@BrittWhoDat) October 11, 2022
