"A little too late" - Fans react as Ryan Garcia's parents blame mental health struggles in statement after boxer's racist rant

Boxing star Ryan Garcia was recently expelled by the World Boxing Council (WBC) after he used racial slurs against Black people and made insensitive comments marginalizing Muslims.

It has been a volatile year for Garcia, who is currently serving a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission. 'King Ry' tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine following his fight against Devin Haney in April 2024. The 25-year-old was also recently arrested for vandalizing a room in the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, California, allegedly causing a damage of $15,000.

However, it was his recent provocative outburst that ignited a storm of criticism and an eventual expulsion from the WBC. In the wake of these events, Garcia's family has now released a statement claiming that the social media meltdown may be a consequence of "ongoing struggle with mental health." It read:

"Our son has recently made statements that do not align with his, or our family's, true character or beliefs. Our family unequivocally does not support any statements he has made regarding race or religion these do not reflect who Ryan truly is and how he was raised."

"Those who know Ryan can attest to this fact. Ryan has been open about his ongoing struggle with mental health over the years and as a family we are committed to ensuring and encouraging that he receives the necessary help to navigate this very challenging time and address both his immediate and long-term well-being."

Check out the statement below:

Several fans, on the other hand, contend that tolerance for Garcia's antics is running low and he has crossed the line with the derogatory remarks. They wrote:

"The compassion is wearing thin. Ppl want him off the streets and out of the way before he hurts someone now. The “trolling” has went way beyond that. He’s lost the plot. Tbh the spotlight is the worst thing for him right now, but he’s more famous than ever. So many yes men smh."

Another fan wrote:

"His parents are a little too late. It's been obvious he's needed help long before the haney fight..."

Yet another fan wrote:

"No excuse warrants his post."

Check out some of the reactions below:

Fans react to the statement of Ryan Garcia's parents [Images courtesy: @MichaelBensonn on X]

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Former NBA star advises Ryan Garcia to seek help

Before his clash against Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia was subjected to mental health evaluation by the New York State Athletic Commission. In the past, Garcia has detailed his struggles with mental health that led to a break from competition in 2021.

However, it seems like the situation has taken a turn for the worse after the recent social media meltdown episode. Former NBA star Stephen Jackson has advised Garcia to seek help while also severely condemning him for the remarks. In a video posted on Instagram, he said:

“First you go from taking steroids, then you’re talking about digging George Floyd up and killing him again, now you’re talking about you hate n*****s and you want to join the KKK? Look, dawg, you need to get some help, bro. Because we don’t play by the same rules that you play by in that ring, dawg. And I’m just telling you, just like I told you in the DMs when you said some stuff, you need to get some help, because it’s a whole different ballgame out here, bro."

Catch Jackson's comments below: