Dez Bryant’s public support of Kareem Hunt didn’t last long.
In a deleted Instagram post on Friday, the former Cowboys receiver was on “Team Kareem” following the running back being released by the Chiefs after a video of Hunt pushing and kicking a woman was published on TMZ.com.
Bryant wrote in the post, which was up for around 15 minutes, that he wants to “know what provoked” Hunt and “what’s deeper than this video being surfaced around.” He later asked people not to be simple-minded while reading this post because “I never said I support domestic violence.”
Bryant, who saw his return to the NFL with the Saints ended by a torn Achilles tendon at practice, appears in the post to be trying to caution athletes about getting into bad situations and for the public to not rush to judgment when incidents like Hunt’s occur.
“I advise all future young stars this.. stay your course.. just because your money get better.. it’s doesn’t mean the prettier women is better,” Bryant wrote. “Protect yourself because it will only be one side of the story if you ever get into some [expletive] … save the explanation by knowing what you are after in life. Nobody is perfect. team Kareem.”
Even after taking the Instagram post down, Bryant continued to defend it on Twitter.
“I made it clear I don’t support domestic violence..,” he wrote in response to a fan questioning his post. “I believe we should make this issue bigger than the video that’s being surfaced around.. being provoked is a big issue.. especially for stars ..if we don’t learn to help and support others it stays a cycle.”
Hunt was also placed on the commissioner’s exempt list by the NFL, meaning he cannot practice, play or attend games while the league continues to investigate.
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The Chiefs, in a statement, acknowledged they were made aware of an incident involving Hunt, which occurred in February, but he lied to them during their talks with him.
“At that time, the National Football League and law enforcement initiated investigations into the issue,” the statement read. “As part of our internal discussions with Kareem, several members of our management team spoke directly to him. Kareem was not truthful in those discussions. The video released today confirms that fact.”
Bryant on the other hand hopes to rehab and continue his NFL career next season. When asked on Twitter if he will be back with the Saint, Bryant responded: “That’s the plan.”