UCLA runner is dismissed from cross country team after racist, homophobic video, text message

UCLA’s Chris Weiland has been dismissed from the school’s cross country and track teams after he apparently used the N-word as well as homophobic and sexist slurs in a video and a text message.

Weiland was previously suspended from the team over the text message and video, coach Avery Anderson confirmed Tuesday, but he was reinstated before the evidence surfaced publicly on social media.

Now, though, Weiland is banned permanently from the team after the footage went viral on Monday, showing him using the N-word while complaining that a former girlfriend cheated on him with an African American. According to the Los Angeles Times, the incidents took place before Weiland enrolled at UCLA in the fall of 2019.

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UCLA’s Chris Weiland (pictured) has been dismissed from the school’s cross country and track teams after he apparently used racist, homophobic and sexist slurs in a video and a text

An Instagram account with the handle '@ucla_is_racist' made several posts showing someone, purportedly Weiland, making racist comments on video and in a text message. That same account claimed in a caption that 'this racist behavior was brought to coaches and the athletic director months ago,' but noted that 'Chris Weiland is still on the team'

An Instagram account with the handle ‘@ucla_is_racist’ made several posts showing someone, purportedly Weiland, making racist comments on video and in a text message. That same account claimed in a caption that ‘this racist behavior was brought to coaches and the athletic director months ago,’ but noted that ‘Chris Weiland is still on the team’

‘When first learning of this a few months ago, I was disgusted and immediately suspended him indefinitely from the team,’ Anderson said in the statement. ‘Even in my disgust, as a coach, my intentions are always to lead and educate and make the change happen that I want to see in this world.

‘It became clear that his continued involvement with the team is incompatible with the culture of mutual support and respect we’re fostering,’ continued Anderson, who is African American. ‘I now realize that the decision to reinstate him was not the right decision, and that the action today is best for the well-being of our team.’

On Monday, an Instagram account with the handle ‘@ucla_is_racist’ made several posts showing someone purported to be Weiland making racist comments on video, in which he’s seen sitting in a dark car, and a text message. 

Weiland was previously suspended from the team over the text message and video. He was later reinstated by coach Avery Anderson (pictured), who has since admitted the decision was a mistake

Weiland was previously suspended from the team over the text message and video. He was later reinstated by coach Avery Anderson (pictured), who has since admitted the decision was a mistake

That same account claimed in a caption that ‘this racist behavior was brought to coaches and the athletic director months ago,’ but noted that ‘Chris Weiland is still on the team.’

In the video, which the LA Times has verified, Weiland appears to be complaining about a girlfriend leaving him for someone else: ‘When she said she didn’t want to get back together, why do you think? It’s cause she wants to be with this f***ing f***** who has no future. She’s going to be with a stupid n***** who’s going to be in community college his whole life.

‘He probably lives in the f***ing ghetto.’

At the end of the dark, pixilated video, Weiland can be seen wearing a UCLA sweatshirt.

A text message was also posted by @ucla_is_racist in which Weiland apparently accused the woman of  sleeping with the unidentified man. 

‘You really cuffed (sic) a F***ING BUM A** N***** WITH NOTHING GOING FOR HIM,’ read the text message. ‘A BROKE A** STUPID A** N*****.’

In another caption, Weiland is accused of repeatedly using this kind of language, and not being held accountable by the school.

‘After this racist behavior was brought to coaches and the athletic director months ago, Chris Weiland is still on the team wearing and representing a BLM patch,’ @ucla_is_racist wrote on Monday, before his dismissal. 

He most recently ran at an event on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona.

In response to the dismissal, UCLA’s Black Student-Athlete Alliance condemned the school for not previously banning Weiland.

‘As a university that champions itself on the accomplishments of its Black athletes that have broken barriers of social justice, we find it deeply disturbing to learn that UCLA knew about an incident of blatant racism, homophobia, and sexism and did very minimal actions,’ read the statement. 

‘We at BSAA refuse to accept the actions of that athlete, as well as the lack of action to address the issue by coaches, staff, and administration. 

UCLA's Black Student-Athlete Alliance criticized the school for not dismissing Weiland sooner

UCLA’s Black Student-Athlete Alliance criticized the school for not dismissing Weiland sooner