If you’re a fan of the NFL Draft, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the Walter Football website.
And if you happen to follow the site on social media, there’s an even better chance you’re familiar with the site’s political beliefs.
Although most of the posts from the Walter Football X account promote the site’s content, the account also frequently posts political beliefs with a far right slant. But while followers have become accustomed to seeing Walter Football being a reply guy in Joe Biden’s tweets or referring to the president as “Pedo Pete,” the account took another turn on Wednesday night with a call for America to return to the 1910s.
After Walter Football accused Rex Chapman of “lying for the establishment” after the former basketball star-turned-social media curator referred to Donald Trump’s claim that “they’re eating the dogs” as “a racist lie,” another user questioned the draft website’s business model. But while the post stating, “Here’s my fantasy football rankings!… I hate women and all immigrants are scum that eat dogs,” appeared to intentionally be hyperbolic, Walter Football responded by clarifying that while “women are great,” he doesn’t think they should have the freedom to vote.
“Women are great, but probably would be better off not voting,” the account replied. “And my family immigrated to the US, so I certainly do not hate all immigrants.”
Women are great, but probably would be better off not voting. And my family immigrated to the US, so I certainly do not hate all immigrants
— WalterFootball (@walterfootball) September 12, 2024
Walter Football didn’t stop there, expounding on his outdated beliefs in subsequent replies.
Women have the luxury of voting without the responsibilities that come with it. They can vote to send men off to war, but never have to go into war themselves. If women, upon registration, were assigned civic duties of some sort, then it would make sense for them to be able to…
— WalterFootball (@walterfootball) September 12, 2024
I don’t think she should vote, no, but she doesn’t think she should either
— WalterFootball (@walterfootball) September 12, 2024
Clearly, there’s no point in trying to change his mind and there isn’t much of a point in attempting to engage in a good faith argument with somebody who’s clearly set in his ways — especially when those ways are outdated by more than a century. It is, however, worth noting that despite his justification regarding sending “men off to war,” women have been serving in the United States military since 1948.
But beyond the shock of seeing someone openly calling for the end of women’s suffrage in 2024, it’s even more wild to see someone doing so on an account ostensibly aimed at promoting an NFL Draft website. While one could debate the pros and cons of sports media personalities “sticking to sports,” most would likely agree that it would be crazy to see ESPN or Fox Sports’ social media managers spouting political beliefs — especially extreme ones — from the company’s account.
Obviously WalterFootball.com isn’t ESPN or Fox Sports and largely appears to be a one-man operation run by the website’s president, Walter Cherepinsky (Awful Announcing has reached out to clarify whether Cherepinsky runs the account, but has yet to hear back). Still, the website has long been a staple of the online NFL Draft community and many were taken aback by the extreme nature of its posts on Wednesday — which is saying something considering its previous social media behavior.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.