Auburn football fans were not having it from one of their own who claimed that Hugh Freeze was a sex offender on Twitter. Even with all of the unfavorable stories being shared about Freeze’s past at Liberty and (particularly) Briarcrest Christian High School in Memphis, that legal term is not one that can be used as a label for Freeze.
That, folks, is what you call libel. Writing down something slanderous about someone is grounds for a lawsuit.
There won’t be legal action for this reckless tweet from a Tiger fan, but there was a measure of justice served by Auburn Twitter:
Man I’m not a fan of Hugh Freeze at all, but what you’re saying has nothing behind it. Stay out of my mentions with stupid claims like this unless you have something real.
— Brant (@brant_daughtry) January 20, 2023
You do realize that what you said isn't even remotely in the ballpark of accurate, don't you?
— Rex Alcairum🦚 (@CairoTiger) January 20, 2023
A sex offender is a legal term, not an opinion. Can you show me Hugh Freeze's registration on the sex offender list? I would love to know
— Bruce's Broome Room (@Bruces_Room) January 20, 2023
Sex offender? Multiple complaints...on campus...at Auburn? What are you talking about bub?
— Ben Taylor (@ause7en) January 20, 2023
Sources, bc if you can’t name any…libel
— Ole Sambo 🥶🦚 (@BigShmule007) January 20, 2023
AL.com fueled anti-Hugh Freeze sentiment with cartoon depicting Auburn football head coach as a predator
Truthfully, this line of thinking from certain fans can be traced back to some of the media reporting on Hugh Freeze’s Auburn football hiring back in November. One cartoon in particular from AL.com specifically depicted Freeze as a predator with a windowless van marketing candy, ice cream and puppies.
It’s one thing for someone with a small following on Twitter to say inflammatory things, but when the mightiest media giant in the state is doing so, there will be many who are misinformed and radicalized to speak out in a dangerous way.