Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr has been forced to apologize for an Instagram photograph and caption that mocked former world champ and promoter Oscar de la Hoya’s substance-abuse problem.
Mayweather apologized for the picture of a somber-looking de la Hoya that ran on his Instagram page on Monday with the headline “MEANWHILE IN REHAB.” The caption underneath the picture said, “OSCAR: ‘I gave Canelo the wrong Blueprint I was high.’”
The 36-year-old American Mayweather described the incident as “stupid” and claimed the photograph was posted without his knowledge.
He did not go into detail about how it ended up on his Instagram account, or who might have put it there. The photograph ultimately was deleted.
“It’s unfortunate that a stupid picture was posted to my Instagram account earlier today that was not posted by me or authorized by me to post,” Mayweather wrote in a statement e-mailed to reporters by his public relations firm.
“I apologize to Oscar and his family for this posting. I wish him well and am rooting for him to win his fight too. I also apologize to all of my followers for this ridiculous post,” he wrote.
Mayweather also stressed that he had wished Mexico’s De la Hoya well at Saturday’s post-fight news conference after Mayweather scored a majority decision in the main event over Saul Alvarez, who is promoted by De la Hoya.
It was just the second fight for Mayweather since he was released from prison after serving a sentence for assaulting the mother of his children.
Mayweather went on to say that he hopes De la Hoya recovers quickly.
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