--- title: Steven Seagal Mocked After Calling NFL Protests 'Disgusting' description: Actor Steven Seagal became the subject of online mockery after he said recent kneeling protests at NFL games were "disgusting" canonical: https://time.com/4960448/steven-seagal-nfl-protests-comments-reaction/ author: Kevin Lui article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-28T06:30:47.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:02:51.635Z og:title: Steven Seagal Mocked After Calling NFL Protests 'Disgusting' og:description: "I think it’s outrageous, I think it’s a joke, it’s disgusting" og:url: https://time.com/4960448/steven-seagal-nfl-protests-comments-reaction/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb253e4230eacff6b/6988dfb797cdff17436b29d7/gettyimages-644863218.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: SMASH Global V Pre-Oscar Fight - Arrivals og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Steven Seagal Mocked After Calling NFL Protests 'Disgusting' twitter:description: "I think it’s outrageous, I think it’s a joke, it’s disgusting" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb253e4230eacff6b/6988dfb797cdff17436b29d7/gettyimages-644863218.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Steven Seagal Called the NFL Protests 'Disgusting.' Here's What the Internet Thought of That > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. 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The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ## Video: NFL Players Protest Against Trump's Comments- Compilation [Watch (HLS stream): NFL Players Protest Against Trump's Comments- Compilation](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/RHFq1ePX.m3u8) (2:16)  _Published 2017-09-25. NFL Players Protest Against Trump's Comments- Complation_ by [Kevin Lui](https://time.com/author/kevin-lui/) ## Kevin Lui Sep 28, 2017 6:30 AM UTC  Steven Seagal in Los Angeles, Feb. 23, 2017. Steven Seagal in Los Angeles, Feb. 23, 2017. Paul Archuleta—Getty Images by [Kevin Lui](https://time.com/author/kevin-lui/) ## Kevin Lui Sep 28, 2017 6:30 AM UTC Actor [Steven Seagal](http://time.com/4468168/steven-seagal-carrot-watermelon-minsk-belarus-president/) became the subject of online mockery Wednesday after he said on British television that recent [kneeling protests at NFL games](http://time.com/4955599/why-president-trump-picked-a-fight-with-athletes/) were both “outrageous” and “disgusting.” Speaking via satellite from Moscow, where he now lives, Seagal told the hosts of _Good Morning Britain_ that he disagreed with the movement started by professional football players who chose to [kneel during the national anthem](http://time.com/4955154/nfl-kneeling-unity-trump/) to protest police brutality and racial inequality. His remarks echo those of President Donald Trump, who has [called](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41407176) the action “disgraceful” and suggested that athletes who do not stand during the anthem should be fired. Trump’s remarks on Twitter calling out athletes by name have reopened a national debate about free speech and race, and pitted the president against some of the country’s most influential figures in the world of sports. “I believe in free speech, I believe that everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but I don’t agree that they should hold the United States of America or the world hostage by taking a venue where people are tuning in to watch a football game and imposing their political views,” Seagal said on the show, hosted by Piers Morgan. “I think it’s outrageous, I think it’s a joke, it’s disgusting.” > [](https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/912949309120958469) He continued: “I respect the American flag. I myself have risked my life countless times for the American flag and I don’t understand or agree with this kind of behavior.” Seagal also defended Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin — who personally signed the executive order granting him Russian citizenship — during the interview. Seagal’s praise of the two leaders and his condemnation of the NFL protests prompted a range of swift reactions from Internet users. > [](https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/913130296882683904) > [](https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/913020759756468225) > [](https://twitter.com/Lecv/status/912940148903628800) > [](https://twitter.com/MrMikyl/status/912946988311773184) > [](https://twitter.com/EricStangel/status/913050497392799744) > [](https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/913032272022040576) Watch the full interview above. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4960448/steven-seagal-nfl-protests-comments-reaction/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4960448/steven-seagal-nfl-protests-comments-reaction/"},"headline":"Steven Seagal Called the NFL Protests 'Disgusting.' 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