HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – An NFL star from Hawaii apologized Thursday for using a racial slur hours ahead of being named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, a Waimanalo native, said a racial slur twice during a livestream while playing a football video game at a charity esports tournament.
In a post on his Instagram story Thursday, McMillan said, “I used a term I should not have. There’s no excuse for what I said. I sincerely apologize for speaking thoughtlessly and will do better.”
In a post on his Instagram story Thursday, McMillan said, “I used a term I should not have. There’s no excuse for what I said. I sincerely apologize for speaking thoughtlessly and will do better.”(Tetairoa McMillan, Instagram)
Hours later, the 22-year-old was named Offensive Rookie of the Year during Thursday evening’s NFL Honors.
“First off, I wanna thank my mom for always being there for me. She’s a real soldier,” he said in his acceptance speech. “I wanna thank my family for just teaching me the importance of, you know, humility, respect, and for always just supporting me.”
During the 2025-2026 season, McMillan had 70 receptions for 1,014 yards, the most receiving yards of any rookie in the league.
McMillan was the eighth-overall selection in the 2025 draft.
“I hope that I can inspire future generations to chase their dreams. Thank you. God bless,” he said.
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