New Orleans Saints fans will likely never forgive Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple for how he went after the city and its fans during the postseason, and his comedian/actor uncle Michael Blackson says he understands why his nephew is still a target.
Apple trashed New Orleans as “the dirtiest smelliest city and has the worst food ever” in a tweet on Jan. 24, after saying three hours earlier that he didn’t know which fanbase he hated more, Saints or Giants.
Ever since, Saints fans have been persistent in finding different ways of making Apple the butt of their jokes on social media.
Apple, who played for the Saints for two seasons in 2018-19, didn’t help himself when he ended up having some rough moments in Super Bowl LVI as the Rams pulled off a 23-20 win for the Lombardi Trophy.
It turns out that Apple has another famous person in his family in Blackson, who is a comedian and actor from Ghana who moved to the United States in the 1980s. He has appeared on Showtime and Starz as part of comedy specials, earning acting gigs in Coming 2 American and The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2.
During an interview with Shannon Sharpe this week, Blackson acknowledged that he is Apple’s uncle.
.@MichaelBlackson on the memes NFL fans make of his nephew, Eli Apple: pic.twitter.com/40wImI89y1
— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) May 13, 2022
Sharpe then followed up with the question, “How does it make you feel when they’re making memes of him?”
Blackson went into an in-depth response, acknowledging that he doesn’t understand where Apple’s comments came from.
“And I’ve told him, we came from a very humble place,” said Blackson, who has traveled to New Orleans to watch his nephew play for the Saints. “We came from Africa with absolutely nothing. To be where are today is all glory to God. He has to be a little more humble than that.”
Blackson said he especially took exception to what Apple said about New Orleans.
“My biggest problem I had with him was the whole thing he’s talking about New Orleans,” Blackson said. “Even the Giants, these guys drafted you 10th pick overall.
“Even when it’s time to go, you’ve got to show respect. Thank (them) for giving you this opportunity.”
Again, Blackson went back to Apple’s criticism of New Orleans.
“I especially didn’t like what he said about New Orleans,” he said. “I have to go to the city to work. Don’t be talking no crap about no city. These people gave you opportunities.
“I think he learned his lesson from the Super Bowl … He went up there cocky and did all that stuff and he got humbled by (Cooper Kupp).”
