“Thugs, drunk on their power” - Martina Navratilova lashes out at policemen involved in detaining Tyreek Hill as bodycam footage emerges

Martina Navratilova has criticized the police officials involved in the detainment of Tyreek Hill after the release of bodycam footage from the incident. The football star was detained by police for an alleged traffic offense.

On Sunday, Hill was stopped by the police near the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, with initial footage from the scene showing the NFL wide receiver lying on the ground as he is handcuffed by officers.

According to an official statement by the Miami PD, Hill was handcuffed ‘for officer safety, after driving in a manner in which he was putting himself and others in great risk of danger.' The statement also labeled Hill ‘uncooperative’ and said his lack of cooperation caused officials to redirect him to the ground.

Now, reacting to freshly released body cam footage of the incident, Martina Navratilova labeled the officials present there as ‘thugs’, writing on X,

“These policemen are such effing thugs. So drunk on their power. Sickening.”

On his end, after being released, Tyreek Hill went on to score a touchdown in the Miami Dolphins’ 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and celebrated by pretending to be placed in handcuffs.

After the game, Hill said he hoped to collaborate with the Miami PD to reach a ‘positive’ outcome.

"Everybody has bad apples in every situation, but I want to be able to use this platform to figure out a way to flip this and make it a positive on both ends, my end and Miami-Dade and that way we can team together and do something positive for the community.”

Martina Navratilova criticizes police officials who handled the Sonya Massey case

This isn't the first time Martina Navratilova has spoken out against police officials using unnecessary force. Back in July, the tennis star used the social media platform X to criticize the police officials who were responsible for the killing of Sonya Massey.

Reacting to a post that mentioned the official responsible for Massey’s death being removed from the US Army for misconduct and having multiple DUIs, Navratilova wrote,

“Just more of the police protecting their own. Criminals with badges do not belong in the police force.”

Martina Navratilova has been outspoken in her criticism of violent policing and often takes to her social media platforms to share her opinions on incidents revolving around police brutality.