Seahawks’ Frank Clark apologizes for tweet aimed at reporter who wrote about 2014 arrest
May 10, 2017, 3:36 PM | Updated: 4:17 pm
Frank Clark has issued two apologetic tweets after taking aim on Twitter at a reporter. (AP)
(AP)
Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark issued a second apology Wednesday for a controversial tweet aimed at reporter Natalie Weiner, who wrote a story in 2015 that addressed an alleged domestic violence incident involving Clark in 2014.
“I understand the seriousness of this subject. I want to apologize to Natalie Weiner for letting my emotions get the best of me about comments made towards my personal life and family,” wrote Clark in the second apology, which was tweeted out Wednesday afternoon from Seahawks headquarters in Renton. “I have worked hard over the last two years to do right, not only for myself, but for my family as well. I will continue on this path, on and off the field.”
On Tuesday, Clark said in a since-deleted tweet directed at Weiner: “People like you don’t have long careers in your field. I have a job for you cleaning my fish tank when that lil job is ova.” Later Tuesday night, Clark tweeted this initial apology that did not address Weiner by name: “Apologize to anyone who felt offended by my tweet earlier. We gotta do better supporting these major issues we face in this world.”
Weiner had tweeted out a link to her 2015 story about Clark on May 2 shortly after a story of hers about Greg Hardy, a former NFL player who has also faced domestic violence charges, was published by Bleacher Report.
Clark spent three days in jail and was charged with domestic violence and misdemeanor assault after an alleged altercation with a girlfriend at a hotel in Sandusky, Ohio in November 2014. He reached a plea agreement in April 2015 that reduced the domestic violence charge to disorderly conduct and dropped the assault charge.
The Seahawks drafted Clark in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft with knowledge of the incident. Said Seahawks general manager John Schneider at the time: “We have done a ton of research on this young man. There hasn’t been one player in this draft that we have spent more time researching and scrutinizing more than Frank. That’s why we have provided Frank with this opportunity and are looking forward to him succeeding in our culture here in Seattle.”
