Carr slammed for tweet about kid saving for college by recycling
Derek Carr's seemingly innocent tweet about a 7-year-old earning money for his college tuition by recycling was met with some pushback Thursday from Twitter users who believed the Oakland Raiders quarterback's comments were insensitive.
Saw that a 7 year old is collecting recyclables so he can pay for college.. has made 10k. Get off your tail and go work hard 4 what you want
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) February 9, 2017
Carr seemed to just be using the story as an example of how hard work always pays off.
But critics highlighted the ridiculousness of a child needing to work at that age simply to afford an education in the only way the internet knows how: sarcastic responses and jokes.
saw that a 10 year old has been selling his blood so he can afford a class trip to the aquarium. whats your excuse?
— DOJay Glazer (@OhWowHmm) February 9, 2017
@derekcarrqb 10K! Wow! He can pay for half a semester at a state school!
— Amy Miransky (@AmyMiransky) February 9, 2017
Just saw a 10 year old is gluing on a fake beard and walking in stilts to work as a longshoreman for lunch money. What's your excuse?
— Howard Whosman (@FanSince09) February 9, 2017
@derekcarrqb my 9 month old son crushes aluminum cans with his teeth all day to help pay my student loans
— Antifa Jeb (@neaterguyonline) February 9, 2017
@derekcarrqb spend your childhood collecting enough garbage and you can achieve anything
— UltimateMaleFeminist (@damienredicamn1) February 9, 2017
Barry Petchesky of Deadspin pointed out that the feel-good story is likely a PR stunt by the boy's parents:
If you go to can boy's site it becomes clear that it's his parents' recycling business and Ryan is mostly a marketing tool.
— Barry Petchesky (@barry) February 9, 2017