'I regret the video': Grant Wahl's brother Eric apologizes to Muslim world after crying foul over journo death
NEWYORK CITY, NEW YORK: Grant Wahl's brother "regrets" speculating that his brother may have been killed at the World Cup in Qatar last week. Eric Wahl, Grant's gay brother, had caused a furor in his viral Instagram video soon after the soccer writer's death on 10 December, accusing the Qatar authorities of "killing him" while he covered the World Cup game.
Eric Wahl explained that he was “in shock” when he posted a video to social media over the weekend theorizing someone murdered his brother. “I regret the video,” Wahl said as he left the Manhattan apartment of his brother’s widow, Dr. Céline Gounder. “I was in shock, and I just had limited information to go on", he told New York Post on Tuesday, December 13.
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Grant Wahl's brother Eric turns Instagram private after SHOCKING remarks about soccer writer's death
Eric had hypothesized that his brother's death may have been the result of foul play because the eminent soccer writer was a vocal opponent of the Qatari regime and had received threats after donning a rainbow jersey to a game. The troublesome post is no longer viewable, but the heartbroken sibling once claimed on Instagram that his brother had been "killed." He stated earlier in the tweet on Tuesday that he doesn't believe there was any wrongdoing and that the family would shortly make a statement outlining the cause of death. "The family will release a statement as to the cause of death soon" and "I no longer suspect foul play," he said
The family will release a statement as to cause of death soon. I no longer suspect foul play. It was not PE. https://t.co/OKRV6XEvgL
— Eric Wahl (@ziplamak) December 13, 2022
Eric also apologized to the Muslim world by saying that he never intended to offend anyone, “I’m especially sorry to any people in the Muslim world that I offended. It was never my intention,” he said as per the report. Grant Wahl, 49, complained of having a "death rattle cough" in a podcast due to a persistent case of bronchitis just before he passed out while reporting on Friday's quarterfinal victory by Argentina over the Netherlands.
Eric had also said there were no portable defibrillators in the stadium at first but later corrected himself on Twitter, writing that "per a US gov official, FIFA is claiming AEDs were accessible at the stadium," referring to the devices. Grant's body was also taken for autopsy in the US after allegations of foul play, Eric tweeted, "We are traveling with Grant's body to the medical examination & autopsy." A few days earlier, he tried to keep a distance from his earlier statements and also made his Instagram private.
Update: We are traveling with Grant's body to the medical examination & autopsy. Per a US gov official, FIFA is saying AEDs were available at the stadium. Thank you to American Airlines for their incredible help. Thank you to the NY Port Authority & the US government. Humbled.
— Eric Wahl (@ziplamak) December 12, 2022
Eric broke into tears as he talked with the outlet, his voice cracking, “He’s probably one of the most humble people I ever knew and was a great champion of marginalized people,” Eric said. He also uploaded photographs of a message connected to a bouquet delivered to Grant's wife that says, "With heartfelt sympathies, NASCAR, Racing Operations." Grant's body was taken to New York City for an independent autopsy on Monday. His spouse, Gounder, an infectious-disease physician at Bellevue Hospital, brought his body to the city medical examiner on Monday.