Warning: Story contains disturbing material, derogatory language
Isaiah Meyer-Crothers released a statement Wednesday through the Hockey Diversity Alliance about the racial abuse and bullying he endured from hockey player Mitchell Miller while the two were growing up together in Ohio.
The Boston Bruins signed Miller to an entry-level contract on Friday, but after facing plenty of backlash from fans, media, the NHL office, and Bruins players, the club decided to part ways with him two days later.
Meyer-Crothers' statement reads in full:
I am Isaiah Meyer-Crothers. I would like to make a statement. I have been bullied since I was in 1st grade There were not many black kids at my school. I was called "brownie" and "n-----." Kids said my black mom and dad didn't love me that's why I had white parents. Mitchell used to ask me to sit with him on the bus and then he and his friends would punch me in the head. This happened my whole time in school.
When I went to junior high Mitchell would spit in my face and call me an N word. I stopped telling because they called me a snitch and I would get made fun of. I had to say I was "his n-----" to sit at his table and he made me clean the whole table. He threw food in my face. I was called "n-----" every day.
The office would tell me to stay away from him because he wasn't my friend. Once he got expelled from school, his friends started bullying me. He pretended to be my friend and made me do things that I didn't want to do. In junior high I got beat up by him.
Everyone thought he was so cool, but I don't see how someone can be cool when you pick on someone and bully someone your entire life.
Middle of October, I was being texted constantly everyday until I answered a Snapchat and IG message from Mitchell Miller. He asked me why I always have my parents doing stuff for me and why can't I speak for myself. I told him I don't care what my parents say I'm old enough to speak for myself. He told me he was sorry and (that the apology) didn't involve hockey. He told me he was doing stuff in the community and helping the youth and wanted to be my friend. I told him, "That's all cool but where is the proof though?" He didn't give me any (proof).
All the lies I have been told from him for so many years I don't believe what Mitchell told me. He kept asking me to be his friend and that he has changed over the years from what he did. I told him "I'm not just gonna be your friend after all you did to me." I am now getting messages on social media from people, calling me 'a slow, retarded assclown' and 'you stupid n-----,' saying that I 'need help.'
Mitchell isn't my friend. It hurts my heart what he did to me. So I just wanted to tell everyone - when Mitchell says we're friends it isn't true. I can't take more of this.
Miller admitted in court in 2016 to bullying Meyer-Crothers, who is developmentally disabled and Black. In one instance, Miller and another classmate tricked Meyer-Crothers into eating a piece of candy they had wiped along the inside of a urinal. Meyer-Crothers had to be tested for hepatitis, HIV, and STDs.
Miller was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, but the team renounced the pick shortly thereafter.
Bruins president Cam Neely said the team signed Miller because it was under the impression the bullying was an "isolated incident" but decided to part ways with the defenseman "based on new information."
