Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw slammed for writing Bible verse on Pride cap: ‘Be a tolerant Christian’
Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw has sparked a fierce backlash after writing a Bible verse on his Pride-themed hat.
On Saturday (14 June), the Dodgers hosted the San Francisco Giants in a celebration that saw the LA stars wear LGBTQ+ Pride-themed baseball caps featuring the team’s logo. June is Pride Month, when many sports teams, video game companies and brands put on events or release products in support of the queer community.
However, pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who is a Christian, made a change to his hat, writing next to the Pride-themed logo, “Gen 9:12-16”.
The passage describes God’s covenant with Noah and all living things, using the rainbow as a sign which serves as a reminder of God’s promise never to destroy all life with a flood again.
Kershaw’s statement has gone viral on social media, with one person pointing out that the pitcher’s inscription of the passage serves to “remind everyone that the rainbow is God’s creation”.
However, many other people were less impressed: “Clayton Kershaw will always be a Dodger great, but it’s things like this that make him a lot less likeable. Just wear the hat. Be a tolerant Christian and accept that there are others who believe differently than you,” someone else wrote.
Clayton Kershaw will always be a Dodger great, but it’s things like this that make him a lot less likable. Just wear the hat. Be a tolerant Christian and accept that there are others who believe differently than you. pic.twitter.com/BHBeRrCYIx
— cal west (@cw_cardenas) June 14, 2025
Someone else accused Kershaw of being “desperate for attention”.
Clayton Kershaw writing on that hat https://t.co/0dglilhk6U pic.twitter.com/kWyXtul9NH
— pearl ✩ (@foolishmoons) June 14, 2025
Kershaw previously hit out at the Dodgers for hosting a Pride Night which featured the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in 2023. He claimed that the non-profit, which uses drag and religious imagery to satirise issues of sex, gender, and morality, mocked Christianity by wearing nun outfits.
His complaint led the Dodgers to move their Christian Faith and Family Day to an earlier date.
Excited to announce the relaunch of Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium on July 30th. More details to come— but we are grateful for the opportunity to talk about Jesus and determined to make it bigger and better than it was before COVID. Hope to see you on July 30th! pic.twitter.com/yNu7HyEgR9
— Clayton Kershaw (@ClaytonKersh22) May 26, 2023
In December last year, footballer Marc Guehi wrote “I Love Jesus” on his LGBTQ+-inclusive rainbow captain’s armband ahead of his side’s Premier League game against Newcastle United.
The Crystal Palace and England defender later took to Instagram, writing on his story: “Jesus [loves] you. Stay blessed”, though he didn’t specifically reference his decision to write on his armband.
In response to the subsequent media storm around Guehi, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said the club will continue to “respect” him.
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