By now most of you know that Tuesday night, the LA Dodgers won the World Series for the first time since 1988. It was a pretty electric time to be anywhere around Los Angeles. I’m a transplant to LA, but I was very happy for the Dodgers and really happy for Dodger fans. Longtime Dodger announcer ,recently retired Vin Scully, was there to see it. People like Heather and Jessica at Go Fug Yourself said they’ve been waiting since they were 13 to see this, Dan Hamumura from Pajiba since he was six. LeBron James begging Mayor Garcetti for a parade like a kid negotiating with dad for a party while he’s out of town was just fantastic. It was the first time I have felt something other than dread in weeks.
But it’s the Dodgers so you knew they were going to f*ck it up somehow. During the game, we found out that third baseman Justin Turner was pulled because of a positive COVID result. It was sad. It was even sadder when he posted this to Twitter:
Thanks to everyone reaching out! I feel great, no symptoms at all. Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA#WorldSeriesChamps
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) October 28, 2020
And everyone was like, ‘Ah man, we can’t believe you can’t be out there either, Justin – you deserve this m… wait – who dat?’ Because out on the field, holding the gosh darn trophy is none other than Justin I Gots the Rona Turner.
Los Angeles Dodgers player Justin Turner was pulled from the World Series Game 6 after a positive COVID-19 result — but was spotted celebrating their victory with teammates afterward.
On Tuesday night, the 35-year-old third baseman was removed in the 8th inning, and after the game finished, MLB officials announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred later addressed Turner’s positive test.
Photos captured after the game, however, showed Turner posing for pictures on the field with the trophy and his fellow teammates, with the athlete wearing a mask at times and sometimes going without one.
According to ESPN, teammate Mookie Betts defended Turner celebrating with the team despite his positive COVID-19 result: “He’s part of the team. Forget all that, he’s part of the team. We’re not excluding him from anything.”
The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he wasn’t aware of the photos that showed Turner up close with others celebrating the victory, the outlet reports. “If there’s people around him without a mask, that’s not good optics at all,” Friedman said.
“Now it’s important we all test negative … to make sure we don’t go out and spread this to other people,” he reportedly added.
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was awarded the MVP of the 2020 World Series. He said, according to ESPN, that Turner not being able to fully celebrate the win due to his diagnosis is “gut-wrenching.”“It hurts me. I can’t imagine how he feels,” said Seager. “If I could switch places with him right now, I would, because that man more than anybody deserves to take a picture with that trophy, celebrate with us, have his family around and enjoy this moment, and that got taken away from him, and that’s not right. That doesn’t sit well with me.”
Honestly, my first thought when I saw a tweet that said Turner was on the field was that a teammate went in and got him. As if, maybe emotions were so high, they could not imagine having this moment without him so they all agreed to stand 15 feet away and let him be on the field – but in his own area and fully covered in every way. Then I saw the photos (People has a lot more damning shots) and I don’t know what to think. I appreciate his teammates want to forgive him and I get how monumental this moment was for them, but think of all the proms, graduations, weddings, births and goodbyes people were denied because of the virus. And they weren’t comforted by their multi-million-dollar contracts and endorsement deals.
I’m sorry Turner tested positive. I hope he remains symptom free. I’m sorry it meant he could have missed out on celebrating. I even think if it was that important, a solution could have been found. But there were a lot of people not wearing uniforms that were put at risk for this photo op. COVID cases and deaths are on the rise in almost every state. Hospitals are beginning to reach capacity again. Andrew Friedman was right, none of the optics are good on this.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“He’s part of the team. Forget all that, he’s part of the team. We’re not excluding him from anything.” – Well if they get covid19 and pass it to vulnerable family members or even strangers that’s on them. But hey, as he tweeted he feels great and that’s all that matters! /s
How selfish.
He is STILL “part of the team” in a &*^%$ mask!!!! Does he think NO ONE will recognise him in a mask??? He could’ve STILL taken a photo with the trophy, w/out a mask on, BY HIMSELF…hell, they could even photoshop the team into the pic after for a team shot with the trophy. Just selfish. And some of the players WITH masks are wearing them BELOW THIER NOSES!!! WTH have they been the last 8 mos.?????
I have a friend that “bleeds blue”. She and her husband tried to excuse it saying that he tested inconclusive the day before, and he was around the team up to they got the retest results, so…. uhm, NO. We NOW KNOW that it is the CUMULATIVE effects of the viral load that builds up.
Sorry… Dodger fan here, but damn, Turner… you’re a prick for doing this.
He should be barred from playing next season and be responsible for all medical and funeral bills for anyone who gets it because of him, and anyone who gets it from someone who got it from him.
Inexcusable.
He’s not a child.
Seriously. It’s nice that his teammates are defending him but he should not have put them in that situation. He could have celebrated from a distance, he really was childish. He basically undid all the work the league did all season to try to keep people safe.
At the very least he should lose his bonus – I think last year’s champions got something like $300,000 each, so fine him that amount. It might make him think twice the next time he wants to do something so stupid. I honestly have no words; close to 230,000 dead but sure, go and risk infecting tons of others. Bah.
Exactly this! Yes, a World Series is a big deal…and yes, they were cheated out of the last one. BUT THIS IS *LIFE OR DEATH*. MLB is trying to disassociate by saying that it was ALL Turner who “ignored protocols”. Maybe. Or maybe he should’ve been packed up and sent out, not just “taken off the field”. They’re all complicit. MLB should ALSO be held responsible.
It’s absolutely inexcusable. Of course people can imagine that he wanted to celebrate with his team. But you know what dude? You’re SICK. You need to sit this one out. And then to take off the mask!!!!! What sheer arrogance.
And if I were a Dodger or a Dodger fan I’d be pissed that now THIS asshole is what this series win has become about.
It’s disgraceful to get that close to other people when you know you have Covid, especially without a mask. There is no way to justify it.
This is despicable. Glad he feels healthy and indestructible, but a lot of people aren’t that lucky. Dbag.
What an unbelievably selfish asshat.
What a dumb ass. Jeez! It’s exactly this type of denial that is fueling this pandemic.
he deserves fines, suspension, even jail time because he knew he had the virus and his lack of symptoms will not save the grandmother or the diabetic or the child that catches it when his virus infects someone else and they bring it home. What dumb jerk, there is no excuse.
This is so 2020.
he’s a symbol of toxic masculinity. The whole team management don’t look too good after their excuses. Congrats for winning, hope you don’t kill anyone?! Yikes
And it’s a tragic disease that is not fair, it’s hits POC, elderly and lower income the worst. In another country that whole team would be quarantined in a locked facility. But, Merica & men’s sports *shrugs*
A lot of people just don’t take the virus seriously. And it’s sad, but i think indicative of core American values around individualism and liberalism. We’re just not a country that values community or altruism as ways to live our daily lives, even if we believe in them as macro concepts.
We have always been a country that values individualism and freedom….but when needed, we came together as a country. Last time that happened, sadly, was 9-11. Then, we were just “Americans” first. Now, in the age of extreme greed, it’s all ME/MINE, and F&*% YOU. Sickens me to my core.
There were lots of brown Americans after 9/11 who were on the receiving end of hate crimes and abuse, so no, not everyone “came together” after 9/11.
What a terrible example he’s just become….
And this is why Covid has spread so rapidly and unfettered. People don’t care about being careful if and when they don’t feel symptoms. It’s like, hey you say I have it and I feel fine, then I must have the really mild version, so it can’t be that bad…or some crazy logic like that.
If he was diagnosed positive, not feeling symptoms, then he absolutely is in the contagious phase. Screaming, yelling and hugging. He passed it on to someone else. Without a doubt. And they will pass it on, and so on and so on. And that is why we are where we are, with no end in sight.
Only a white dude would even attempt something like this, let alone get away with it/have excuses made in his defense. Yeah I said it. We’ve all been making sacrifices. My sister and best friend’s weddings both postponed to next year, you don’t think we all wanted, nay, needed that celebration?
I’m really tired of this site being a platform to bully and shame others surrounding the virus. People are trying to do the best they can, people aren’t perfect, and the more we divide and pit people against each other, the world will only continue to be in turmoil and unrest. It’s time to stop pointing the finger and perhaps turn it on yourself. Putting people under the microscope and criticizing them is not okay. I enjoyed your site at one time, but this will be my last time visiting it.
DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS
CB, I love you.
BRAVA CB!!!!! THIS is why I love this site!
@Ellie doesn’t seem to realize that Celebitchy isn’t an airport. You don’t need to announce your departure. Just go.
*standing ovation for CB”
I never thought I would be grateful for a site called Celebitchy. My world is insane dealing with these idiots. I want to travel, go to the movies, go out to dinner, LIVE- but know I can’t because I have a responsibility to protect other peoples health. When I saw the pictures of this doofus, I was sickened.
It’s not about shaming people, it’s about having common decency and being respectful to those around you. Unfortunately, in many places in America, you’re just not seeing that. I have a friend who lives in Japan, and while the country was shut down for a period of time towards the beginning of the pandemic, they, for the most part, have re-opened to semi-normal life – because EVERYONE is wearing a mask when in public places, maintaining social distancing, and staying home if they test positive or feel sick. In America a lot of people only care about themselves, and don’t respect others enough to take the necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of the virus.
“Doing the best they can” is knowing your positive and exposing other people anyway? No, that’s called being a selfish asshole.
I work in healthcare and we have lines wrapped around our building every single day now, people just like you who refuse to wear masks and refuse to stay socially distant, then at the first sign of a sniffle they run to us wanting tests and medication. They cry their eyes out when they realize they infected friends and family with their selfishness.
My coworker was rushed via ambulance to the ER yesterday because she couldn’t breathe after fighting covid for 10 days, so screw your “stop bullying” mentality. It’s time we call out this selfish behavior even more because it’s literally KILLING people.
Try to imagine saying that about any other reckless behavior that puts lives at risk:
“I know he was drunk driving, but he was just trying to do the best he could.”
The only reason that you’re attempting to excuse his (and others’) behavior is because you feel like people are entitled to continue living their lives as before. The things people are being asked to TEMPORARILY give up are luxuries, not necessities: eating out at a restaurant is a luxury; going to the movies is a luxury, celebrating a team win is certainly a luxury. I also miss doing stuff, but getting to do something like have a drink in a bar isn’t worth someone’s LIFE.
Bless your heart.
Apparently he was placed in isolation at the game-which a staffer most likely released him from. Security told him several times to leave the field, and he refused strongly.
Way to take a team moment and make it all about yourself dude. The excuse of oh he already exposed them in the dugout or oh let them celebrate is BS. Rules are rules and I hope the MLB throws the book at Turner and the entire staff.
If he was black and it was a cop instead of security this would be a totally different story being written.
Men like this scare the shit out of me. Especially when they are tall and strong. I have no tolerance for men who cannot accept a No.
This is beyond stupid. Not to mention that fact that these guys and all of their families go back to their respective homes on planes with dozens of people. And the Dodgers letting his behavior slide is even more aggravating.
So security told him to leave the field several times and he strongly refused.
So what’s the point of security if they can’t enforce the rules?
When he strongly refused they should have physically removed him from the field.
How were they all going to feel when someone died because they didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings or ruin the moment.
Thank you for this post. I am a Dodgers fan and feeling all the same things. Perfectly expressed.
Four years ago, the week before the election, I was celebrating my Cubbies first World Series win in 108 years. It was such an incredible high, followed by an incredible low the next week when Trump was “elected”. I hope all of the Dodgers fans on this site get to continue their high next week with a Biden/Harris victory!
AMEN, Tootsie!!!!
Amen!
A neighbor told me the last time the Dodgers and Lakers won the championships in the same year, a democrat won the presidency (Clinton). Let’s keep the tradition alive!
I hope against hope this will be.
I’d always joked that if my Cubs won the Series the world would end. Didn’t actually expect it happen, but Trump winning was damn close.
The last time the tampa bay rays were in the World series they lost, and then Obama was elected. Here’s to hoping that’s a bad sign for Trump.
I live in Chicago and completely forgot about the Cubs ending their 100+-year dry spell in 2016. Trump’s victory sucked all the air out of the room.
Seriously, when is willfully infecting others with covid-19 going to be a punishable offense? The CAREN bill was passed in CA (Oakland?) so I have hope that such specific laws can be passed. Isn’t there something similar for HIV? There has to be some consequence for people willfully disregarding others’ safety when they know they are infected.
It was disgusting to watch him giving and receiving hugs to multiple players and players wives. All the while knowing he tested positive. I feel like people are getting stupider and stupider in 2020.
How did Turner get sick in the first place? Haven’t been following the sports seasons at all, but just listened to a piece by Tom Verducci (SI) and it sounds like the “bubble” surrounding all of these people was very, very strict. So, did Turner also violate the bubble in some way?
Well he is obviously stupid and selfish, so I’m sure he was out doing stupid things that got him exposed and sick